6' Dinwfl PvnllQIirrQf! ( Ten Nights in a Bar Room. The Bottie. 

rldjfiJ JjAuHallSjUUi (The Drunkard's Doom, The Drunkard. 

Tiitteen Years ot a Drtiakard's Life 15 cts e:ich. 



No. XVIII. 

FRENCH'S STANDARD DR 

EDITED BY EPES SARGENT. 

PR 2807 

.fi2 F7 

""'_:_ HAMLET. 

IN FIVE ACTS. 

BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEAEE 

THE STAG-B EDITION. 



WITB THE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHARAC 
TBRS, COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, ETG 



V W! 



NEW YORK: 

BAMUEL FRENCH, 

122 Nassau Stkbet, (Up Staibs.) 



EOOKS Every amateur shotjliD have. 

AMATEUR'S GUIDE ; or, How to Get up Home Theatricals and to Act !n Them, with Rules, B 
J4aws, Selected Scenes, Plays and other useful information for Amateur Societies. Price 25 ctS.. 

GUIDE TO THE STAGE. 15 cents. ART OF ACTING. 15 cents. 

Antifhinn nn. iliis mnev Sf>mf. hii vn.n.'il, nn vpoAimi. of nrinfi.. 



BENCH'S STANDARD DRAMA 



Price 15 Cents eacli.— Bound Volximes $1. 25. 



roL. I. 



dy of Lyons 



Qeymoon 

lool for Scandal 

TOh. II. 

•anger 

atlier Whitehead 

IIII 

Sacrifice 

mester 

for the Heartache 

inohback 

!sar de Bazan 

'OL. III. 

or Grentleman 

III 

Preserved 

7e Chase 

e Five Shillings 
''OL. IV. 
us 

' the Commons 
L Assurance 
nt Day 

ntlemen of Verona 
ilous Wife 
rals 
ion 

rOL. V. [Debts 
Way to Pay Old 
efore Tou Leap 
)hn 
s Man 

and Pythias 
3tiue Marriage 
a Tell 

;er tho Wedding 
OL. VI. 
he Plough 
and Juliet 
Times 

! the Twelfth 
idal 

Hies of a Night 
est [Fair Lady 
leart Never Won 
OL. VII. 
lEuin 



enna 

.do About Nothing 

tie 

3L. VIII. 

estate 
I Night 

n& Co 
nt of Venice 
,ds&Toung Hearts 
ineers [riage 

iVeeks after Mar 
'OL. IX. 

1 Like It 
ier Brother 

IS 

,nd Country 

ear 

evils 

5^0L. X. 

VIII 

1 and Single 

IV 

17 

annenng 

earts and Wives 

1 Family 

oops to Conquer 



VOL. XI. 

81 Julius Coesar 

82 Vicar of Wakefield 

83 Leap Year 

84 The Gatspaw 

85 The Passing Clou(' 

86 Drunkard 

87 Rob Roy 

88 George Barnwell 

VOL. XII. 

89 Ingomar 

90 Sketches in India 

91 Two Friends 

92 Jane Shore 

93 Oorsican Brothers 

94 Mind your own Business 

95 Writing on the Wall 

96 Heir at Law 

VOL. XIII. 

97 Soldier's Daughter 
'dZ Douglas 
99 Marco Spada 

100 Nature's Nobleman 

101 Sardanapalufl 

102 Civilization 

103 The Robbers 

104 Katharine and-Petruchio 

VOL, XIV. 

105 Game of Love 

106 Midsummer Night's 

107 Ernestine [Dream 

108 Rag Picker of Paris 

109 Flying Dutchman 

110 Hvpocrite 

111 Therese 

112 La Tour de Nesle 
VOL. XV. 

113 Ireland As It Is 

114 Sea of Ice 

115 Seven Clerks 

116 Game of Life 

117 Forty Thieves 

118 Bryan Boroihme 

119 Romance and Reality 

120 Ugolino 

VOL. XVL 

121 The Tempest 

122 The Pilot -«»■ 

123 Carpenter of Eouen 

124 King's Rival 

125 Little Treasure 

126 Dombey and Son 

127 Parents and Guardians 

128 Jewess 

VOL. XVII '% 

129 Camille * 

130 Married Life 

131 Wenlock of Wenlock 

132 Ro.se of Ett'ickvale 

133 David Co; irfield 

134 Aline, or i Rose of 

135 Pauline [Killarney 

136 Jane Eyre 

VOL. XVIIL 

137 Night and Morning 

138 ./Ethiop 

139 Three Guardsmen 

140 Tom Cringle 

141 Henriette, the Forsaken 

142 Bustaohe Baudin 

143 Ernest Maltraverfl 

144 Bold Dragoons 

VOL. XIX. 

145 Dred, or the Dismal 

[Swamp 

146 Last Days of Pompeii 

147 Esmeralda 

148 Peter Wilkins 

149 Ben the Boatswain 

150 Jonathan Bradford 

151 Retribution 

152 Minerali 

VOL. XX, 

153 French Spy 

134 Wept of Wish-ton Wish 

155 Evil Genius 

156 Ben Bolt 

157 Sailor of France 

158 Red Mask 

159 Life of an Actress 

160 Wedding Day 



VOL. XXI. 

161 All's Fair in Love 

162 Hofer 

163 Self 
](j4 Cinderella 

165 Phantom 

166 Franklin [Moscow 

167 The Gunmaker of 
163 The Love of a Prince 

VOL. XXII. 

169 Son of the Night 

170 Rory O'More 

171 Golden Eagle 

172 Rienzi 

173 Broken Sword 

174 Rip Van Winkle 

175 Isabelle 

176 Heart of Mid Lothian 
VOL. XXIII. 

177 Actress of Padua 

178 Floating Beacon 

179 Bride of Lamermoor 

180 Cataract of the Ganges 

181 Robber of the Rhine 

182 School of Reform 

183 Wandering Boys 

184 Mazeppa 
VOL. XXIV. 

185 Young New York 

186 The Victims 

187 Romance after Marriage 
138 Brigand 

189 Poor of New York 

190 Ambrose Gwinett 

191 Raymond and AgneS 

192 Gambler's Fate 
VOL. XXV. 

193 Father and Son 

194 MassanieUo 

195 Sixteen String Jack 

196 Youthful Queen 

197 Skeleton Witness 

198 Innkeeper of Abbeville 

199 Miller and his Men 

200 Aladdin 

VOL. XXVI. 

201 Adrienne the Actress 

202 Undine 

203 Jessie Brown 

204 Asmodeus 

205 Mormons 

206 Blanche of Brandywine 

207 Viola 

208 Deseret Deserted 

VOL. X.XIVII. 

209 Americans in Paris 

210 Victorine 

211 Wizard of the Wave 

212 Castle Spectre 

213 Horse-shoe Robinson 

214 Armand, Mrs Mowatt 

215 Fashion, Mrs Mowatt 

216 Glance at New York 
VOL. XXVIII. 

217 Inconstant 

218 Uncle Tom's Cabin 

219 Guide to the Stage 

220 Veteran 

221 Miller of New Jersey 

222 Dark Hour before Dawn 

223 Midsum'r Night's Dream 
[Laura Keene's Edition 

224 Art and Artifice 
VOL. XXIX 

225 Poor Young Man 

226 Ossawattomie Brown 

227 Pope of Rome 
223 Oliver Twist 

229 Pauvrette 

230 Man in the Iron Mask 

231 Knight of Arva 

232 Moll Pitcher 
VOL. XXX. 

233 Black Eyed Susan 

234 Satan in Paris 

235 Rosina Meadows [ess 

236 West End, or Irish Heir- 

237 Six Degrees of Crime 

238 The Lady and the Devil 

239 Avenger.or Moor of Sici- 

240 Masks and Faces [ly 



(Catalogue continued on third page of cover. y 



VOL. XXXI. 

241 Merry Wi^es of Windsoi 

242 Mary's Birthday 

243 Shandy Maguii'e 

244 Wild <")ats 

245 Michael Erie 

246 Idiot Witness 

247 Willow Copse 

248 People's Lawyer 

VOL. XXXII. 

249 The Boy Martyrs 

250 Lucretia Borgia 

251 Surgeon of Paris 

252 Patrician's Daughter 

253 Shoemaker of Toulouse 

254 Momentous Question 

255 Love aud Loyalty 

256 Robber's Wife 
VOL. XXXIII. 

257 Dumb Girl of Genoa 

258 Wreck Ashore 

259 Clari 

260 Rural Felicity 

261 Wallace 
'262 Madelaine 

263 The Fireman 

264 Grist to the Mill 
VOL. XXXIV. 

265 Two Loves and a JAt9 

266 Annie Blake 

267 Steward 

268 Captain Kyd 

269 Nick of the Woods 

270 Marble Heart 

271 Second Love 

272 Dream at Sea 
VOL. XXXV. 

273 Breach of Promise 

274 Review 

275 Lady of the Lake 

276 Still Water Runs Deep 

277 The Scholar 

278 Helping Hands 

279 Faust and Marguerite 

280 Last Man 
VOL. XXXVI. 

281 Belle's Stratagem 

282 Old and Young 

283 Eaffaella 

284 Ruth Oakley 

285 British Slave 

286 A Life's Ransom 

287 Giraida 

288 Time Tries All 
VOL. XXXVII. 

289 Ella Rosenburg 

290 Warlock of the Glen 

291 Zelina 

292 Beatrice 

293 Neighbor Jackwood 

294 Wonder 

295 Robert Emmet 

296 Green Bushes 
V^OL. XXXVIII. 

297 Flowers of the Forest 

298 A Bachelor of Arts 

299 The Midnight Banquet 

300 Husband of an Hour 

301 Love's Labor Lost 

302 Naiad Queen 

303 Caprice 

304 Cradle of Liberty 
VOL. XXXIX. 

305 The Lost Ship 

306 Country Squire 

307 Fraud and its Victims 

308 Putnam 

309 King and Deserter ^j,-^ 

310 La Fiammina ? 

311 A Hard Struggle 

312 Gwinnette Vaughaa 

VOL. XL. 

313 The Love Knot [Judge 

314 Lavater, or Not a Bad 

315 The Noble Heart 

316 Corjolanus 

317 The Winter's Tale 
3l8Eveleen Wilson 

319 Ivanhoe 

320 Jonatl tn in England 

■a— i^— ■mwi II 



No. XVHL 
FRE^JCH'S STANDARD DRAM 



HAMLET. 

IN FIVE ACTS. 



BY WILLIAM SHAK SPEAR E. 

II 

THE STAGE EDITlONj 



WITft THE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHAEACTEIS, OM 
TTMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, 4to. 



■iN^^^ 



NEW YORK: 
SAM U -EL FRENCH, P U B L I S II E li^ 

122 Nassau Strkbt, (Up Staiks.) 






CAST OF CHARACTER! 



Dirury Lane, 1823l 

Claudius King- of Denmark Mr. PoweJl. 

Hamlet " Macready. 

Polonius ^ " Terry. 

Laertes .' " Mercer. 

ffm-atio " Arclier. 

Rosencrantz " Wel-.ster. 

GuildenBtern " Coveney. 

Qjtrick ' Ff^nley. 

Man-Uus " King. 

Bernardo . " Howell. 

Vrancisco *' Turtiour. 

First Actor 

Firal Grave-Digger " Dowrcn. 

Second Grace- Dig-ffcr " Hughes. 

Giiust of Hamlefs Father " \7allack. 

Queen Mrs. Glover. 

Ophelia Mis6 Povey. 

dctress 

Priest, Sailors, Ladies, ifC 



Park, 1&45. 
Mr. Ficiiiiiig. 
' Charles Keaa 

" Bass. 

*' Bliiiid. 

" Barry. 

" S. Pearson. 

" Crocker. 

" De VValden. 

" M' Douall 

" Galltt. 

" King-. 

" Aiidersoa. 

" Fisher. 

" Heath. 

" Dyott. 
Mrs. Abbott, 

" Charles Keas. 
Miss F. Gordon 



COST UMES. 

KING. — Brown velvet doublet and trunks, richly embroidered, crimson vcivet robe 
trimmed with gold ; white silk stockings, white shoes. 

HA.'VILET. — Black doublet, trunks, and cloak, trimuied with bugles and black sa 
tin, black hose, round black hat, and black plumes. In the grave-vard scenfi ho 
war* a dark green cloak, triaimed with scarle.. 

HORATIO. — Crimson doublet and trunks, richly embroidered, white pantal<»on8, 
russet boots, gauntlets, round black hat, with gold band and white plumes. 

LAERTES. — Green vest, mantle, and trunks, embroidered with gold, whue silk 
pantaloons and shoes, gauntlets, round black hat, white plumes, and sword. — Se- 
cond dress- Black. 

POIiONIUS. — Crimson doublet, mantle, and trunks, richly embroidered ; white eilk 

stockings, white shoes with piok roses. 
ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDEMSTERN.— Crimson vest, mantle and truuks, eia- 

broidered, white stockings and shoes. 
OSRIC. — White vest, white breeches, bla.:k silk mantle with rich gold spangie^ 

white .?ilk stockings, white shoes, round black hat with white plumes. 
GHOST. — Steel armour and helmet. 

GRAVE DIGGERS.— Coarse drab-coloured dresaea, with belts and buckle*. 
QUEEN. — White satin dress, trimmed with silver, purple v ^Ivet robi. 
OPHELIA.— Plain white rnuelin. 
VIRGINS.— Plain white muslin. 
ICTRESS. — Plain gray calico, trimmed with satin. 



^ 



EXITS AND ENTRAMOEo 
R. moans Right: L. Left: R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door, 
8. B. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door 

RELATIVE POSITIONS. 
R., means Riglit; L., Left; C, C nitre ; R. C, Right of Centrt 
L. C, Left of Centra 

n.B. Passages marked with h vnrteu Commas, are usually omitttd in tk« 

rf.presentation. 



EDITOU^AL IlNxRODUCTION, 

[he bicgraphcr of Jolm Fhilip Kemble relates, that on a-n OC' 
jeAon of the question bemg agitated, whether Othello oi Macbeth 
were Shakspeare's greatest production, John Philip remarked : 
" The critics may decide that point for themselves ; but, as for 
the people, take up any Shakspeare you will, froin the first vo- 
lume of his v/orks to the last, which has been read, and see which 
play bears the most obvious signs of perusal. My life for it, they 
will be found in the volume which contains the play of Hamlet." 

Every reader's experience will confirm this test. No merely 
literary production in the language has been so nmch read and 
studied, or has been made the subject of so much comment and 
criticism. The present acting edition is that prepared by Kem- 
ble. It differs from the original play simply in its abridgment ; 
few liberties having been taken with the language, except where 
they were essential to its appropriate condensation. Garrirk 
produced an altered version at Drury Lane in 1771, in which he 
left out Osrick and the Grave-Diggers, and introduced some ab- 
surd changes in the last scene. He seems to have been so mucli 
ashamed, however, of his attempt, that he never published it. 

As commentators upon " Hamlet" are sufficiently abundant, 
we tliink we cannot render a better service to those by whom the 
present edition will be principally sought, than ty giving some 
account of the peculiarities of the most eminent Hamlets, who 
have been memorable in the annals of the Stage. 

The following isColley Gibber's account oi Bettertori' s appear- 
ance in this part : — 

" You may have seen a Hamlet perhaps, who on the first appear?inco 
of his lather's spirit has thrown himself" into all the straining vocifera- 
tion requisite to express rage and fury; and tiie house has thundered 
with applause, though the misguided actor was all the while Tearing a 
passion iuto rags. I am the more bt/ld to otier you this instance, be- 
cause the late Mr. Addison, while I sat by l*im to see this scene acted, 
inade the same observation, asking me with some surprise if I thought 
HamJet should be ii; so violent a passion with tlie ghost, which, though 



!▼ EDITORIAL !NTROJ>UCTION. 

it might have astonished, had not provoked him ? Betlerton opened 
this scene with a pause of mute amazement ; then rising slowly to a 
solemn trembling voice, he made the ghost equalhj terrible to the spec- 
tator as to himself : and in the descriptive part uf the natural emotions 
which the ghastly vision gave him, the boldness of his expostulation 
was still governed by decency, manly, but not braving, his voice never 
rising into that seeming outrage or wild defiance of what he naturally 
revered. But alas ! to preserve this medium between mouthing and 
meaning too little, to keep the attention more pleasingly awake by a 
tempered spirit than by mere vehemence of voice, is of all the mas- 
ter-strokes of an actor the most difBcult to reach. In this none have 
yet equalled Betterton." 

** I have been told," says another writer, "by a gentleman who has 
frequently seen Betterton perform Hamlet, that he observed his cour- 
tenance, which was naturally ruddy and sanguine, in the scene of tire 
third act where his father's ghost appears, through the violent and sud 
den emotion of amazement and horror, turn, instantly on the sight of 
his father's spirit, as pale as his neckcloth ; when his whole body seem- 
ed to be affected with a tremor inexpressible; so that, had his father's 
ghost actually risen before him, he could not have been seized with 
more real agonies. And this was felt so strongly by the audience, that 
the blood seemed to shudder in their veins likewise; and they, in some 
measure, partook of the astonishment and horror, with which they saw 
this excellent actor affected." 

" Of this same Betterton, the good and great Addison remarks: — 
'Such an actor as Mr. Betterton ought to be recorded with the same 
respc-t as Roscius among the Romans.' And he adds in vindication of 
the stage : ' there is no human invention so aptly calculated for the 
forming a free-boi'u people as that of a theatre.' " 

Murphy speaks thus of GarricJc^s demeanor in the same part 

" When Garrick entered the scene, the character he assumed was 
legible in his countenance. By the force of deep meditation he trans- 
formed himself into the very man. He remained fixed in a pensive at- 
titude, and the sentiments that possessed his mind could be discovered 
by the attentive spectator. When he spoke, the tone of his voice was 
hi unison with the workings of his mind, and as soon as he said — 
" But I have that within, which passeth show," 

his every feature proved and confirmed the truth. The soliloquy be 
ginning, 

" O that this too, too solid flesh would melt," 

brings to light, as if by accident, the character of Hamlet. His gi'ief, 
his anxiety, nd irresolute temper, are strongly marked. He does no! 
as yet know that his father was poisoned, but his mother's marriage 
excites resentment and abhorrence. He begins, but stops for want ol 
words. Reflections crovw'd upon him and he runs o F in commendation 
of his deceased father. His thoughts soon turn again to his mother. 
In an instant he flies off again, and continues in a strain of sudden tran- 
sitions, taking no less than eighteen lines to tell us, that in less than 
two months his mother tnarried his father's brother. In all these 
ghiftings of thepassions, Garrick's voice and attitude changed with won 
derful celerity, and, at every pause, his face was an indey to his mind 



fJDITORIAL INTRODUCTION. , > 

•"'On the first appearance of the ghost, such a figure of coiistfraatioi 
was never seen He stood fixed in mute astonishment, and the audi 
ence saw him growing paler and paler. At'lei- an interval of suspense, 
he spoke in a low, trembhng accent, and uttered his questions with the 
gi-(«atest difficulty. His direcvions to the players were given con umoie. 
The closet-scene with his mother w?.s highly interesting, vt-arrn and 
path-^:ic. He spoke daggers to her, till her conscience turned her eyes 
inward on her own guilt. In the various soliloquies, Garrick proved 
himself the proper organ of Shakspeare's genius." 

It was on the 30th of September, 1783, that John Philip Kern- 
hie made his first appearance at Drury Lane in the character of 
Hamlet. His biographer, Boaden, says of his performance : 

** To his general conception of the character I remember but one 
objection — that the deportment was too scrupulously graceful. There 
were points in the dialogue in almost every scene, which called upon 
the critic, where the young actor indulged his own sense of the mean- 
ing; and these were to be referred to the text or context of Sliaks- 
peare, and also to the previous manner of Garrick's delivery, or the 
existing one of Henderson's. For instance, Kemble said : 

• And for my soul, what can it do to that, 
Being a thing immortal as itself!' 

Grarrick here, with great quickness, said: 'What can it do to thai ?' 
There is more impressiveness in Kemble's manner of putting it. Hav- 
ing drav^^n his sword to menace the friends, who would prevent him 
following the Ghost, every Hamlet before Mr. Kemble presented the 
point to the phantom as he followed him to the removed ground. 
Kemble, having drawn it on his friends, retained it in his right ha-nd, 
but turned his left towards the Ghost, and drooped the weapon afte* 
him — a change both tasteful and judicious. As a defence against such 
a being, a sword was ridiculous. The kneeling at the descent of the 
Ghost was censured as a trick. Henderson saw it, and adopted it im 
mediately. These two great actors agreed in the seeming intention 
of particular disclosure to Horatio. ' Yes, but there is, Horatio — and 
much offence too' — and they turned off upon the pressing forward of 
Marcellus to partake the communication. Kemble only, however, 
prepared the way for this by the marked address to Horatio, " Did you 
not speak to it?" 

*■ In the scene with Polonius, where Hamlet is asked what is th« 
matter that he reads, and he answers, ' Slanders, sir,' Kemble, to giv« 
the stronger impression of his wildness, tore the leaf out of the book. 

The mobled queen.' 

"^Garrick repeated this after the player, as in doubt;* Kemble, as 
in sympathy. And accordingly Polonius echoes his approbation, ami 
says the expression is good. Henderson and Kemble ccacuiTed Li 
Baying to Horatio : 

"Ay, in ray heart of heart, as I do thee !" 



* We think that h(ire Garrick was unquestionably right. The remark of Polo« 
Blue would fje more appropriate in the case of Hamlet's appearing puzzled by tht 
tara *' mobled "• -Ed ^ 



71 EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION. 

Garrick gave it differently ; heart of heart. The emphasis should be 
on the first word lieart, according to our judgment. In the mock play 
before the king, Garrick threw out as an unmeaning rant, addressed to 
Lucianus, the line, 

" The croaking raven doth bellow for revenfc." 

But Kerable and Henderson made it a reflection of Hamlet applicable 
to his own case.* In the adjuration to the Queen, 'Mother, for love of 
grace,' &c., Kemble knelt. His exclamation on hearing that the dead 
body was Ophelia's had not the pathos of Henderson's, who seemed 
here struck to the very soul. ' What ! the fair Ophelia!' Henderson's 
mode of uttering this was so inimitably line, that his tones lingered like 
some exquisite strain of music in the memory. 

" Kemble played this part in a modern court dress of rich black vel- 
vet, widi a star on his breast, the garter and pendant ribbon of an or- 
der, mourning sword and buckles, with deep ruffles; the hair in pow- 
der, which, in the scene of feigned distraction, flowed dishevelled in 
front and over his shoulders." 

Of the comparative styles of Edmund Keaii and Charles Kem- 
ble in this character, Hazlitt, one of the best theatrical critics of 
his day, remarks as follows : 

" Mr. Kemble unavoidably fails in this character for want of ease 
and variety. The character of Hamlet is made up of undulating lines 
It has the yielding flexibility of a * wave o'th' sea.' Mr*. Kemble plays 
it like a man in armor, with a determined inveteracy of purptjse, in 
one undeviating straight line, which is as remote from the natural grace 
and refined susceptibility of the character, as the sharp angles and ab- 
rupt starts which Mr. Kean introduces into the part. Mr. Kean is as 
much too splenetic and rash as Mr Kemble is too deliberate and form- 
al. His manner is too sti-ong and pointed. He throws a severity ap- 
proaching to virulence into the common observations and answers. — 
There is nothing of this in Hamlet. He is, as it were, wrapped up in 
his own reflections, and only fMnks aloud. There should therefore be 
no attempt to impress what he says upon others by a studied exagge- 
ration of emphasis or manner ; no talking at his hearers. There should 
be as much of the gentleman and scholar as possible, infused into the 
part, and as little of the actor." 

The following remarks by Da^des have reference to a point in 
the received mode of enacting Hamlet, which we think might 
well be reformed. Retszch, the celebrated German artist, who 
has so exquisitely illustrated this play, appears to have seen the 
absurdity of the miniatures, and represents Hamlet in the scen« 



* We think that here too Garrick's construction was the most judicious. Hamlet 
«vas quizzing the actor, as, where he asks if tliis " was a prolog^ue oi die posy of a 
rtiig " Shakspeare would hanily have made a raven bellow, except by way of ridi- 
raling:the jnmeaning I "jmbast of some of the dramatists of his day. — Ed. Standard 
Urama. 

m 



EDITORIAL INTiCODLCTlUIM. Vll 

referred to, as regarding the likenesses of his father and nncla 
hung upon the wall : — 

" ' Look here upon this picture, and on this.' 

•' It has h'^^u tlie constant practice of the stage, ever since the Eoa* 
toratJ jn, for Hamlet, in this scene, to produce from his pocket two pic- 
tures in little, of his father and uncle, not much bigger than two largo 
cfiins or medallions. How the graceful attitude of a man could be 
given in miniature, I cannot conceive. In the infancy of the stage, w« 
know that our thi-'atres had no moving scenes, nor were they acquaint- 
ed with them till Betterton brought some from Paris, 1662. In our 
antnors time they made use of tapestry ; and the figures in tapestry 
might be of service to the action of the player in the scene between 
Hamlet and the Queen. But, if the scantiness of decorations compel- 
led the old actors to have recourse to miniature pictures, why should 
the play-house continue the practice when it is no longer necessary — 
when tiie scene might be shown to more advantage by two portraits, 
at length, in different panels of the Queen's closet? Dr.Armstrong long 
ago pointed out the supposed absurdity of these hand-pictures. The 
other mode of large portraits would add to tlie graceful action of the 
player, in pointing at the figures in the wainscot. He might resume 
the chair immediately after he had done witii the subject, and go on 
with the expostulation." 

From the first repre-sentation of Hamlet to the present day, it 
is calculated that no dramatic production whatever has been so 
frequently acted both in the theatres of Great Britain and the 
United States. It is generally the first play thumbed by stage- 
struck aspirants ; and yet there is no character in which it is so 
difficult to satisfy an intelligent audience. The reason is, that 
almost every one has his own beau ideal of Hamlet, and it is dif- 
ficult for any actor to come up to that standard of the imagination. 
Mr. Macready, Mr. Forrest, the elder VandenhofT, and Charles 
Kean, hav€ all gained some celebrity in this part ; but we must 
confess we would rather see them in any other one of their favor- 
ite characters. There are fine points, undoubtedly, in the per- 
formances of all ; but v/e have invariably risen fi'om the represen' 
tation with a se.ise of dissatisfaction — a feeling that it was not 
our old acquaintance, the melancholy prince, whom we had beer, 
seeing. From descriptions that have come down to us ')f Bet- 
i*»^rton's acting in this character, we should infer that he was bj 
''ir th3 greatest and truest Hamlet that the stage has yet known 



HAMLET. 



AC T I. 

Scene l.^Elstnore.—A Platform near the Palace—Night. 
Francisco at his Post, r, 

Enter Bernardo, l. 

Ber. (l.) Who's there 1 

Fra7i. Nay, answer me : — stand, and unfold yourself. 

Ber. Long live the king ! 

Fran. Bernardo % 

Ber. He. 

Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. 

Ber. (l. c.) 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, 

Francisco. 
Fran. (r. c.) For this relief, much thanks : — 'tis bitter 
cold, 
And I am sick at heart. 

Ber. Have you had quiet guard ] 
Fran. (l. c.) Not a mouse stirring. 
Ber. (r.) Well, good night. 
If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, 
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. 

Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho ! (l.) Who ii 
there 1 

Enter Horatio and INIarcellus, l. 

Hor. (l.) Friends to this ground. 
Mar.^-^R.) And liegemen to the Dane, 
Fran. Give you ga^d night. 



P HAMLET. [Ac» I 

Mar. Oh^ farewell, honest soldier ! 
Who halh relieved you ] 

Fran. Bernardo hath my place. 
Give you good night. • [Exit, L 

Mar. Holloa ! Bernardo ! 

Ber. Say, 
What, is Horatio there 1 

Ho?: A piece of him. [Giving his hand 

Ber. Welcome, Horatio ; welcome, good Marcellus. 

Hor. What, has this thing appeared again to-night ] 

Ber. I have seen nothing. 

Mar. (l. c.) Horatio says, 'tis but our fantasy : 
And will not let belief take hold of him. 
Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us ; 
Theref<»re I have entreated him 'along 
With us to watch the minutes of this night; 
That, if again this apparition come. 
He may approve our eyes, and speak to it. 

Hor. (r. c.) Tush ! tush ! 'twill not appear 

Ber. Come, let us once again assail your ears. 
That are so fortified against our story, 
What we two nights have seen. 

Hor. (c.) Well, let us hear Bernardo speak of this. 

Ber. Last night of all, 
When yon same star, that's westward from the pole. 
Had made his course to illume that part of heaven 
Where now it burns, Marcellus, and myself, 
The bell then beating one, — 

Mar. (c.) Peace, break thee off; look, where it comeii 



again ! 



Enter Ghost, l. 



Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. 

Hor. (r. c.) Most like : — it harrows me with fear and 
wonder. 

Ber. It would be spoke to. 

Mar. Speak to it, Horatio. 

Hor. What art thou, that usurp'st this time of night, 
Together with that fair and warlike form, 
In which the majesty of buried Denmark 
Di d sometimes march 1 By heaven, I charge thee, speak. 

[Ghost crosses to & 



•c-Wfft :.\ HAMLET 8 

Mar, It is offended. 

Ber. See ! it stalks away. 

Uor. Slay; speak; speak, I charge tliec, speak! 

[Exit GJl3Sti B. 

Mar. 'Tia gone, and will not answer. 

Bcr. How row, Horatio '^ you tremble and look pale : 
ts not this son.ething more than fantasy 1 
What think you of it ? 

Ilor. (r.) I might not this believe, 
Without the sensible and true avouch 
Of mine own eyes. 

Mar. (c.) Is it not like the king 1 

Hor. As thou art to thyself: 
Such was the very armour he had on. 
When he the ambitious Norway combated. 

Mar. Thus, twice before, and jump at this dead hour, 
With martial stalk he hath gone by our watch. 

Hor. In what particular thought to work, I know rot \ 
But, in the gross and scope of mine opinion. 
This bodes some strange eruption to our state. 

Ee-enter Ghost, l. 

But, soft ; behold ! lo, where it comes again ! 
I'll cross it, though it blast me. \Ghost crosses to r.] Stay 
illusion ! ^ 

If thou hast any sound or use of voice, 
Speak to me : YGhost stops at E, 

If there be any good thing to be done, 
That may to thee do ease, and grace to me, 
Speak to me. (l. c.) 
If thou art privy to thy country's fate, 
Which, happily, fore-knowing may avoid -~ 
Oh, speak ! 

Or, if thou hast uphoarded in thy life 
Extorted treasure in the womb of the earth, 
For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, 
Sjieak of it . — \Flxit Ghost, l.] — stay, and speak. 

Mar. 'Tis gone ! 
We do it wrong, being so raajestical, 
T J offer it the show of violence. 

Ber. It was about to speak, when the cock crew. 

Hor, (r.) And tlien it started like a guilty thing 



10 HAMLET. [ACT i 

Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, 

The cc'ck, that is the trumpet of the morn, 

Doth, with his k~>fty and shrill-sounding throat, 

Awake the god of day ; and, at his warning, 

Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, 

The extravagant and erring spirit hies 

To his confine. 

But, Icok, the morn, in russet mantle clad, 

Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill : 

l>reak we our watch up; [Crosses, l.] and, by my ad^ic€ 

Let (l. c.) us impart what we have seen to-night 

Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, 

This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. [Exeunt, L. 

S'^ENE II. — The Palace. — Flourish of Trumpets. 

Enter Polontus, t/ie King, Queen, Hamlet, Ladies and 
Attendants, l., Laertes, r., and stand thus : 

R. Laertes. Polon. King. Queen. Hamlet, l. 

Kirig. (c.) Though yet of Hamlet, our dear brother** 
death, 
The memory be green ; and that it us befitted 
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom 
To be contracted in one brow of woe ; 
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, 
That we. with wisest sorrow, think on him. 
Together with remembrance of ourselves. 
Therefore, our sometime sister, now our queen, 
Tiie imperial jointress of this warlike state, 
Have we, as 'twere with a defeated jo}'-, 
Taken to wife ; nor have we herein barred 
Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone 
With this affair along : f^i all, our thanks. — 
And now, Laertes, what's the news with you 1 
You told us of some suit. — What is't, Laeites ? 

Laer, My dread Lord, 
Your leave and favour to return to France ; 
From whence, though willingly, I came to Denmark, 
To show my duty in your coronation ; 
Yet now, I must confess, that duty done. 
My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, 
A.^ bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. 



tfCEim il.] 



HAMLET. 11 



King. Have you your father's leave ? Whal says Po- 
lonius 1 

Vol. He hath, my Lord ; 
I do beseech you, give him leave to go. 

King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes ; time be thine, 
And thy best graces ; spend it at thy will. 
Bat now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son- 

Ham. A little more than kin, and less than kind. 

[Aside, 

King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you ] 

Ham. Not so, my Lord ; I am too much i'the sun. 

Qiiecn. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted coh)ur off, 
A.nd let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. 
Do not, forever, with thy vailed lids, 
Seek for thy noble father in the dust : 
Thou know'st 'tis common ; all that live must die, 
Passing through nature to eternity. 

Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. 

Queen. If it be. 
Why seems it so particular with thee 1 

Ham. Seems, madam ! nay, it is; I know not sceras 
'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, 
Nor the dejected 'haviour of the visage, 
No, nor the fruitful river in the eye. 
Together with all forms, modes, shows of g^rief, 
That can denote me truly : these, indeed, seem. 
For they are actions that a man might play ; 
But I have that within, which passeth show; 
These but the trappings and the suits of woe. 

King. 'Tis sweet and commendable in youi DtiKrsrfl^ 
Hamlet, 
To give these mourning duties to your father: 
But, you must know, your father lost a father ; 
That father lost, lost his ; and the survivor bound 
In filial obligation for some term. 
To do obsequious sorrow : but to persevere 
In obstinate condolement, is a course 
Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief; 
It shows a will most incorrect to heaven. 
We pray you, throw to earth 
This unprevaihng woe, and think of us 
As ol' a father ; for let the world take note, 
s 



IS HAMLET. 



[Act I 



You aro the m^st immediate to our throne, 
Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. 

Qiceen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet, 
T pray thee, stay with us, go not to Wittenberg. 

Ham. I shall, in all my best, obey you, madam. 

King. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply ; 
Be as ourself in Denmark. Madam, come; 
This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet 
Sits smiling to my heart : in grace whereof. 
No jocund health, that Denmark drinks to-day, 
But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell, 
Re-speaking earthly thunder. [Flouris/i of Trumpets. 

[Exeunt in tlie following order, viz. 1st, Polonious, with 
a White Rod, formally leading the way j 2d, the 
King and Queen ; 3d, Laertes ; Ath, male and fo- 
•male Attendants. 

Ham. [Standing alone, "L.^ Oh, that this too, too solid 
flesh would melt. 
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew ! 
Or that the Everlasting had not fixed 
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! God ! O God ! 
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable. 
Seem to me all the uses of this world ! 
Fie on't ! O fie ! (c.) 'Tis an unweeded garden. 
That grows to seed ; things rank and gross in nature, 
Possess it merely. That it should come to this ! 
But two months dead ! — nay, not so much, not two — 
So excellent a king; that was, to this, 
Hyperion to a satyr ; so loving to my mother, 
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven 
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth ! 
Must I remember ] Why, she would hang on him. 
As if increase of appetite had grown 
By what it fed on — and yet. within a month — 
Let me not think on't ; — Frailty, thy name is woman ! — 
A little month ; or ere those shoes were old. 
With which she followed my poor father's body, 
Like Niobe, all tears ; — 
She married with my uncle, 

My father's brother ; but no more like my father, 
Than I to Hercules. 

It 13 not, nor it cannot come to, good ; — 
But break, my beart : (l.> for I must hold my tongrief 



II.] 



HAMLET. \^ 



Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo, r. 

Ilor. (r.) Hail to your Lordship ! 

Ham. I am glad to see you well : 
Horatio — or I do forget myself? 

Ilor. The same, my Lord, and your poor servant ever. 

Ham. (r.) Sir, my good friend ; I'll change that nam© 
with you. 
And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio 1 — 
Marcellus ? 

Mai', (r.) My good Lord — 

Ham. (c.) I am very glad to see you— Good even, sir - 
But what, in faith, make yoii from Wittenberg'^ 

Hor. (l. c.) a truant disposition, good my lord. 

[Marcellus and Bernardo stand, R, 

Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so ; 
Nor shall you do mine ear that violence, 
To make it truster of your own report 
Against yourself: I know you are no truant. 
But, what is your affair in Elsinore "? « 

We'll teach you to drink deep, ere you depart. 

Hor. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral. 

Ham. I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student ; 
I think it was to see my mothers wedding. 

Hor. Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon. 

Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio ! the funeral baked meats 
Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. 
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven. 
Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio ! 
My father — methinks, I see my father. 

Hor. Where, 
My lord ] 

Ham. In ray mind's eye, Horatio ! 

Hor. I saw him once : he was a goodly king. 

Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, 
J shall not look upon his like again, (l. c.) 

Hor. (r. c.) My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. 

Ham. (l.) Saw ! who % 

Hor. My lord, the king, your father. 

Ham. The king, my father ! 

Hor. Season your admiration for awhile 
With an attent e-ir ; till I may deliver. 



14 HAMLET. [ActI. 

Upon the witness of these gentlemen, 
This marvel to you. 

Hajfi. (c.) For heaven's h)ve, let me hear. 

Ilor. (c.) Two nights together had these gentlemen, 
Marcellus and Bernardo, on their v/atch, 
In the dead waste and middle of the night, 
Been thus encountered ; — a figure like your father, 
Armed at point, exactly cap-a-pe, 
Appears bef(jre them, and, with solemn march. 
Goes slow and stately by them : thrice he walked, 
By their oppressed and fear surprised eyes, 
Within his truncheon's length ; whilst tliey, distilled 
Almost to jelly with the act of fear, 
Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me 
In dreadful secresy impart they did ; 
And I with them, the third night, kept the watch : 
Where, as they had delivered, both in time. 
Form of the thing, each word made true and good, 
The apparition comes. 

Ham. \To Bernardo and Marcellus, R.] But where was 
this 1 

Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watched. 

Ham. Did you not speak to it ] 

Ror. (l.) My lord, I did ; 
But answer made it none ; yet once, methought. 
It lifted up its head, and did address 
Itself to motion, like as it would speak ; 
But, even then, the morning cock crew loud; — 
And, at the sound, it shrunk in haste away, 
And vanished from our sight. 

Ham, 'Tis very strange. 

Hor. As I do live, my honoured lord, 'tis true ; 
And we did think it writ down in our duty. 
To let you know of it. 

Ham. (r. c.) Indeed, indeed, sirs : but this tr<>ublBfl 
me. — 
Hold you the watch to-night ] 

Mar. We do, my lord. 

Ham. Armed, say you ] 

Mar. Armed, my lord. 

Han. From top to toe ] 

Mar. My lord, frorr bead to foot. 



ScEnll.j HAMLET. 1^ 

Ham. Then saw you not his face ! 

Ilor. Oh, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver U|p* 

Ham. What, looked he frowningly ] 

Ilor. A countenance more 
In sorrow than in anger. 

Ham. Pale, or red ? 

Hor. Nay, very pale. 

Ham. And fixed his eyes upon you 1 

Hor. Most constantly. 

Ham. I would I had been there. 

Hor. It would have much amazed you. 

Ham. Very like, 
Very like : — stayed it long 1 

Ilor. While one, with moderate haste, 
Might tell a hundred. 

Mar. Longer, longer. 

Hor. Not when I saw it. 

Ham. His beard was grizzled ? — no % 

Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, 
A sable silvered. 

Ham. I will watch to-night; 
Perchance, 'twill walk again. 

Hor. I warrant 'twill. 

Ham. If it assume my noble father's person, 
I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape, 
And bid me hold my peace. \Crosses, L.j I pray you all, 

\Iieturns to r 
If you have hitherto concealed this sight. 
Let it be tenable in your silence still ; 
And whatsoever else shall hap to-night, 
Give it an understanding, but no tongue. 
I will requite your loves : so, fare you well : 
Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve, 
I'll visit you. 

Hor. (r.) Our duty to your honour. 

Ham. (r.) Your loves, as mine to you : 

[Exeunt all hut Hairdetj »« 
My father's spirit ! (c.) — in arms ! — all is not well ; 
1 doubt some foul play : 'would the niglit were come ! 
Till then, sit still, my soul : (l.) foul deeds will rise, 
Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes. 

b2 \ExU, l. 



13 HAMLET. [Act I 

Scene 111.-^ An Apartment in I olonius's House. 

Enter Laertes and Ophelia, r. 

Laer. (r.) My necessaries are embarked : farewell ! 
A.nd, sister, as the winds give benefit, 
Pray, lot me hear from you. 

Oph. (r.) Do you doubt that? 

Jjaer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, 
Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood ; 
He may not, as unvalued persons do. 
Carve for himself; for on his choice depends 
The safety and the health of the whole state ; 
Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain, 
If with too credent ear you list his songs. 
Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister ; 
And keep you in the rear of your affection, 
Out ef the shot and danger of desire ; 
The chariest maid is prodigal enough. 
If she unmask her beauty to the moon. 

Oph. (r. c.) I shall the effect of this good lesson keep 
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, 
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, 
1^'how me the sWep and horny way to heaven : 
Whilst, like a reckless libertine, 
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads. 
And recks not his own rede. 

Laer. (c.) Oh, fear me not ! 
1 stay too long ; — But here my father comes. 

Enter Polonius, l. 

Fol. (l. c.) Yet here, Laertes ! aboard, aboart^, for 
shame ; 
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, 
A.nd you are staid for. 

Laer. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. 
Faiewell, Ophelia, and remember well 
What I have said to you. 

Oph. 'Tis in my memory locked. 
And you yourself shall keep the key of it. 

Laer. Farewell. \Exit^ L, 

Pol What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you 1 



4CKRS IV .J 



HAMLET. 17 



Oph. So please you, something touching the lord Ham* 

let. 

PoZ. (c.) Marry, well bethought ; 
'Tis told to m3, he hath very oft of late, 
Given private time to you ; and you yourself 
Have of your audience been most free and bounteous. 
If it be so, (as so 'tis put on me, 
And that in way of caution,) I must tell you, 
You do not understand yourself so clearly, 
As it behoves my daughter, and your honour. 
W^at is between you % give me up the truth. 

Oph. (c.) He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders 
Of his affection to me. 

PoZ Affection ! puh ! you speak like a green girl, 
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. 
Do you believe his tenders, as you call them % 

Oph. I do not know, my lord, what I should think. 

Tol. Marry, I'll teach you : think yourself a baby; 
That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay, 
Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly; 
Or you'll tender me a fool. 

Oph. My lord, he hath importuned me with love, 
In honourable fashion. 

Pol. Ay, fashion you may call it ; go to, go to. 

Oph. And hath given countenance to his speech, my 
lord, 
With almost all the holy vows of heaven. 

Pol. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, 
When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul 
Lends the tongue vows. 
This is for all, — 

I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, 
Have you so slander any moment's leisure, 
As to give words or talk with the lord Hamlet. 
Look to't, I charge you ; \Crossesy r.] come your ways. 

Oph. (r.) I shall obey, my lord. \lE^xeunt, r 

Scene IV. — The Platform. 
Enter 'Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus, r. u. e. 

Hatn. (r.) The air bites shrewdly ; it is very cold, (c.) 
Hot, (r.) It is a nipping and an eager air. 



18 HAMLET. [An 1 

Ham. "What hour now ? 

Ilor. (c.) I tliink it lacks cf twelve. 

Mar. (r. c) No, it is struck. 

Hor. I heard it not ; it then draws near the seasoD, 
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. 

[Flourish of Trumpets and Drums, and Ordnance shot ' 
off, within. 
"What does this mean, my lord % 

Ham. (l.) The king doth wake to-night, and takes his 
rouse ; 
And as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down 
The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out 
The triumph of his pledge. 

Hor. Is it a custom % 

Ham. Ay, marry, is't ; I 

But to my mind — though I am native here, 
And to the manner born — it is a custom 
More honoured in the breach, than the observance. 

Enter Ghost, l. 

Hor. (r.) Look, my lord, it comes ! 

Ham. (r. c.) [Horatio stands about two yards from tk4 
hack of Hamlet ; Marcellus about the same distance from ' 
Hamlet, up the Stage.\ Angels and ministeis of grace do- 
fend us ! [ Ghost stops L. c 
Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damned, 
Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell. 
Be thy intents wicked, or charitable, 
Thou com'st in such a questionable shape, 
That I will speak to thee : I'll call thee Hamlet, 
King, father ! — Royal Dane : Oh, answer me ! 
Let me not burst in ignorance ! but tell, 
Why thy canonized bones, hearsed in death, 
Have burst their cerements ! why the sepulchre. 
Wherein we saw thee quietly in-urned. 
Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws, 
To cast thee up again ! What may this mean, 
That thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel, 
Revisit'st thus the glimpes of the moon, 
Making night hideous ; and we fools of nature, 
So horridly to shake our disposition, 
With thoughts beyond the reaches of oui souli % 



Scxjrz V.J 



HAMLET. 19 



Say, why is this 1 wherefore 1 what should we do ? 

[Ghost heikana 

Ho^, It beckons you to go away with it. 
As if it some impartment did desire » 

To you alone. 

Mar. Look with what courteous action 
It waves you to a more removed ground ; 
But do not go with it. 

Hor. No, by no means. 

Ham. ft will not speak ; then I will follow it. 

Hnr. [Taking Hamlefs arm.] Do not, my lord. 

Ham. Why, what should be the fear ] 
T do not set my life at a pin's fee ; 
And, for my soul, what can it do to that, 
Eeincr a thino: immortal as itself? — v^ 

It waves me forth again ; — I'll follow it. 

Hor. What, if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord 1 
Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff, 
And there assume some other horrible form, 
And draw you info madness 1 

Ham. (c.) It waves me still ; 
Go on, I'll follow thee. [Breaks away, and crosses, l. c. 

Mar. You shall not go, my lord. [Both hold him again. 

Ham. (c.) Hold off your hands. 

Hor. (c.) Be ruled, you shall not go. 

Ham. My fate cries out, 
And makes each petty artery in this body 
A? hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve. [Ghost heckons 

Still am I called — unhand me, gentlemen ; — 
By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me. 

[B?-eaks away from ikerrk 
I say away : — Go on — I'll follow thee. 

[Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet, l. — Hoiatio and Marcei 
lus slowly follow. 

Scene V. — A remote part of the Platform,. 

Re-enter Ghost and Hamlet, froin l. v. e. to l. c, 

Hayn. (c.) Whither wilt thou lead me ] speak 
rU go no further. 

Ghost, (l. c.) Mark me. 
Ham. (r. c.) I will. 



20 HAMLET. 



{Aetl 



Ghost. My hour is almost come 
When I to sulph'rous and tormenting flames 
Must lender up myself. 

Ham. Alas poor ghost ! 

Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing 
^ J what I shall unfold. 

Ham. Speak, 1 am bound to hear. 

Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. 

Ham. What] 

Ghost, I am thy father's spirit ; 
Doomed for a certain term to walk the night ; 
And, for the day, confined to fast in fires, 
Till the foul crimes, done in my days of nature, , 
Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid 
To tell the secrets of my prison-house, 
I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word 
Would harrow up thy soul ; freeze thy young bhjod ; 
Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres j 
Thy knotted and combined locks to part, 
And each particular hair to stand on end, 
Like quills upon the fretful porcupine : 
But this eternal blazon must not be 
To ears of flesh and blood : — List, list. Oh, list ! — 
If thou didst ever thy dear father love — 

Ham. Oh, heaven ! 

Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder 

Ham. Murder ! 

Ghost, Murder most foul, as in the best it is ; 
But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. 

Ham. Haste me to know it, that I with wiii;i?« »* pwift 
As meditation, or the thoughts of love, 
May sweep to my revenge. 

Ghost. I find thee apt. — 
Now, Hamlet, hear : 

*Tis given out, that, sleeping in my orchard, ' 
A serpent stung me ; so the whole ear of DennwM'k 
Is by a forged process of my death 
Rankly abused : but knqw, thou noble youth. 
The serpent that did sting thy father's life, 
Now wears his crown. 

Ham. Oh, my ]>rophetic soul ! my uncle ] 

Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, tliat adulterate beaat. 



icc9« v., HAMLET. 

With witchcraft of his wit, with traitoroL.« gifta.^ 

Won to his shameful lust 

The will of my most seeming- virtuous queen : 

Oh, Hamlet, what a falling off was there ! 

From me, whose love was of that aignitVj 

That it went hand in hand, even with the vow 

I made to her in mamage ; and to decline 

Upon a wretch, whose natural gifts were poor 

To those of mine !— 

But, soft, methinks I scent the morning air^ — 

Brief let me be : — sleeping within mine orchard 

My custom always of the afternoon. 

Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, 

With juice of cursed hebenon in a phial, 

And in the porches of mine ears did pour 

The leperous distilment : whose effect , 

Holds such an enmity with blood of man, 

That swift as quicksilver it courses through 

The natural gates and alleys of the body ; 

So it did mine. 

Thus w^s I, sleeping, by a brother's hand. 

Of life, of crown, of queen, at once despatched! 

Cut off, even in the blossoms of my sin, 

No reck'ning made, but sent to my account 

With all my imperfections on my head. 

Ham. Oh, horrible ! Oh, horrible ! most hov -lids I 
Ghost. Jf thou hast nature in thee, bear it not ; 
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be 
A couch for luxury and damned incest 
But, howsoever thou pursu'st this act, 
Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive 
Against thy mother aught ; leave her to Heaven, 
And to those thorns that in her bosom lodore. 
To goad and sting her. Fare thee well at once ! 
The glow-worm shows the matin to be near, 
And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire. — 
Adieu, adieu, adieu ! remember me. [ Vamshes, t, 

Ha7n. (r.) Hold, hold, my heart; 
And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, 
But bear me stiffly up ; — (c.) — Remember thee ] 
Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat 
In this distracted globe. Remember thee 1 



S2 HAMLET. (AOI i 

Yea, from the table of my memory 
I'll wipe away all forms, all pressures past, 
And thy commandment all alone shall live 
Within the book and volume of my brain, 
Unmix'd with baser matter; yes, by heaven, 
[ have sworii it. 

Jlor. I Within^ L.] My lord, my lord. — 

Mar. [ Within.] Lord Hamlet, — 

Ilor. [ JVitkin.] Heaven secure him ! 

Ham. So be it ! 

Hor. [ Within.] Hillo, ho, ho, my lord ! 

Ilarn. Hillo, ho, ho, boy ! come, bird, come ! 

Enter Horatio and Marcellus, l.u.e. 

Mar. (r. c.) How is*t, my noble lord ] 

Hor. (l. c.) What news, my lord ] 

Ham. (c.) Oh, wonderful ! 

Hor. Good, my lord, tell it? 

Ham. No ; you will reveal it. 

Hor. Not I, my lord, by heaven. 

Ham. How say you, then ; would heart of man onc9 
think it \ — 
But you'll be secret % 

Hor. Ay, by heaven, my lord. 

Ham. There's ne'er a villain, dwelling in all Denmark^ 
But he's an arrant knave. 

Hor. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the 
grave. 
To tell us this. 

Ham. Why, right ; you are in the right ; 
And so, without more circumstance at all, 
I hold it fit, that we shake hands and part ; 
You, as your business and desire shall point you ;— 
For every man hath business and desire, 
Such as it is — and, for my own poor part, 
[ will go pray. 

Hor. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord 

Ham. I am sorry they offend you, heartily. 

Hor, There's no offence, my lord. 

Ham. Yos, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, 
And much offence, too. [ Takes his hand.] Touching thiA 
vision here — 



fcERS ?.] 



HAMLET. 23 



[t is an honest ghost, that let me tell yon . 
For voiir desire to know what is between us, 
O'or-master it as you may. [Part.] And new, good fiicnds, 

\Cro3se8i L. 
As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers, 
Give me one poor request. 

Ilor. What is't, my lord ? 
V\^e will. 

Ham. (c.) Never make known what you have seen tc 
night. 

ITor. Sf Ma?\ My lord, we will not. 

Ham. Nay, but swear it. 

Ho?\ Propose the oath, my lord. 

Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen ; (r.) 
Swear by ray sword. 

Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear! 

Hor. Oh, day and night, but this is wond'rous stran^^l 

Hayn. And therefore as a stranger give'- it welcome. 
There are moie thing's in heav'n and earth, Horatio, 
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. 
But come: — 
Here, [All three stand, r.J as before, never, so help you 

mei'cy ! 
How strantre or odd soe'er I bear myself — 
As I, perchance, hereafter shall think meet 
To put an antic dispixsition on — 
That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, 
With arms encumbered thus, or this head-shake, 
Or by pn^nouncing of some doubtful phrase. 
As, " Well, well, we know:" — or, " We could, an if we 
would :" or, " If we list to speak;" or, " There be, an if 
they might ;" 

Or such ambiguous giving out, to note 
That you know aught of me : — this do ye swear. 
So j^iace and mercy at your most need help you ! 

Cxhost. \Bencath.] Swear! 

Ham. llest, rest, perturbed spirit ! [All at c] — So, gen- 
tlemen, 
With all my love I do commend me to you : 
And what so poor a man as Hamlet is, 

[ Takes a hand of each* 
May do to express his love and friending to you. 



24 HAKLBrr [Awfl 

Heaven willing shall not lack. Let uo go in toj^ether; 

[Grotg€f, It 
And still your fingers on your lips, T pray. 
The time is out ojf joint; — Oh, cui-sed spite ! 
That e?ei i was born to set it right ! [ExeUKtf u 

END OF ACT I. 



AC T II 

Scene I. — An Apartment in Tolonius's House, 
Enter Polonius, l., and Ophelia, r. 

Pol. (i-.) How now, Ophelia 1 what's the raatter ? 

Oph. (r.) Oh, my lord, my lord, I have been no 
frighted ! 

Pol. With wliat, in the name of hea\'en 1 

Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, 
Lerd Hamlet — with his doublet all unbraced. 
No hat upon his head. 

Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other. 
He comes befiU'e me. 

Pol. (c.) JNIa.l for thy love ] 

Oph. (c.) My lord, I do not know ; 
But, trulv, I do fear it. 

Vol. What s^xid he ] 

Oph. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard; 
Then goes ht. to the length of all his arm, 
And with his other hand thus o'er his brow, 
He falls to such perusal of my face. 
As he would draw it. Lohg stayed he so ; 
At last, a little shaking of mine arm, 
And thrice his head thus waving up and down-™- 
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound. 
As it did seem to slatter all bis bulk, 
And end his being : that done, he lets me go ; 
And, with his head over his shoulder turned, 
Ho seemed to find his way without his eyes ; 
For out o'doors he went Vv^itbout their heips, 
And. to the last, bended their light on me 



Basmlt.^ HAMLET. 26 

Pol. Ccme» go with me ; T will go seek the ling 

riiis is the very ecstasy of love. 

What, have you given him any hard words of late % 

Opli. No, my good lord ; but, as you did command, 
r did repel his letters, and denied 
His access to me. 

ToL That hath made him mad. 
Come, go we to the king : 

This must be known ; which, being kept close^ might move 
iVIore grief to hide, than hate to utter love. \Exeunt, l. 

Scene II. — The Palace^ 

Enter the King, Queen, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, l, 
Francisco and Bernardo, r. 

King, (c.) Welcome, dear, Rosencrantz and <"^uild*3n- 
stern ! 
Moreover that we did much Ions: to see you, 
Tlie need we have, to use you, did provoke 
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard 
Of Hamlet's transformation : 
What it should be, 

More than his father's death, that thus liath put him ^ 
So much from the understanding of himself,. 
[ cannot dream of; I entreat you both, 
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court 
Some little time ; so by your companies. 
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather, 
Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus. 
That, opened, lies within our remedy. 

Queen, (c.) Good gentlemen, he hath much talced of 
you; 
And, sure I am, two men there are not living 
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you 
So to expend your time with us a while, 
Your visitation shall receive such thanks 
As fits a king's remembrance. 

Ros. (l.) Both your majest'/es 
Might, by the sovereicjn power you tave of us. 
Put your dread pleasures more intc comraaud 
Than to entreaty. 

GuU. (l.) But we both obey; 



26 HAMLET. ^Ac»n 

And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, 

To lay our service freely at your feet. 

King, Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildtnsteni 
Queen. I do beseech you instantly to visit 

My too much changed son. Go, some of you, 

!\nd bring '^bese gentlemen where Hamlet is. 

\^Exeuni all hut King and Queen, it 

Enter Polonius, l. 

Pol. (l. c.) I now do think (or else this brain of mine 
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure 
As it hath used to do), that 1 have found 
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. 

King, (c.) Oh, speak of that ; that do I long to hear 

Pol. My liege and madam, to expostulate 
What majesty should be, what duty is, 
Why day is day, night, night, and time is time, 
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. 
Therefore — since brevity is the soul of wit, 
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes— 
I will be brief: your noble son is mad : 
Mad call I it ; for, to define true madness, 
What is't, but to be nothing else but mad % 
But let that go. 

Queen, (r. c.) More matter, with less ait. 

Pol. Madam, I swear, I use no art at all. 
That he is mad, 'tis true ; 'tis true, 'tis pity ; 
And pity 'tis, 'tis true ; a foolish figure ; 
But farewell it ; for I will use no art. 
Mad let us grant him, then : and now remains, 
That we find out the cause of this effect; 
Or, rather say, the cause of this defect ; 
For this effect, defective, comes by cause : 
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. 
Perpend — 

I have a daughter : have, while she is mine ; 
Who, in her duty and obedience, mark, 
Hath given me this : [Shews a jjaper.] now gather, and 
surmise, 

[Reads.]—-" To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the 
most beautified Ophelia," — That's an ill phrase, a vile 
phrase ; beautified is a vile phrase • but you shall hear ;— 



f CEIIE II.] 



HAMLET. 27 



[Reads.] — " In her excellent white bosom, these," &c 

Queen. Came this from Hamlet to lier 1 

Pn/. Good madam, stay awhile ; 1 will be faithful :— 
\Reads.\ — '* Doubt thou, tlie stars are fire ; 

Doubt, that the sun tloth move; 
Doubt truth to be a liar; 
But never (lr»ubt, 1 love. 

" Oh, dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers ; I have 
no art to reckon my groans ; but, that 1 love thee best, oh, 
most best, believe it ! Adien, 

*' Thine evermo'-^. most dear lady, whilst 
this machin<5 is to him, Hamlet." 
This, in obedience, hath my dnucrhter shown me ; 
And more above, hatfi his solicitipfr«, 
As they fell out by time, by means »nd place, 
All triven to mine ear. 

King. How haih she 
Received his love 1 

Pol. What do you think of me 1 

King. As of a man faithful and horrnvrnble. 

Pol. I would fain prove so. But wh^t ^pightyou think, 
When I had seen this hot love on the v/'m^ 
(As I perceived it, I must tell you that. 
Before my daughter told me), what might ya-v 
Or my dear majesty, yoyr queen here, think. 
If I had played the desk or table-book ; 
Or looked upon this k)ve with idle sight ; 
What might you think 1 No, I went round tP n-^k, 
And my young mistress thus did I bespeak ! 
Lord Hamlet is a prince ; out of thy sphere ; 
This must not be : and then I precepts gave h^ 
That she should lock herself from his resort, 
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens ; 
"Which done, she took the fruits of my advice: 
And he, repulsed, (a short tale to make), 
Fell into a sadness ; 
Thence into a weakness ; 

Thence to a lightness ; and by this declensioOp 
Into the madness wherein now lie raves, 
And all we mourn for. 

Kireg. Do you think 'tis this 1 

Queen. It may be, very likely. 
c2 



S8 HAMLET. [Ac»li 

Pol. HaA there been such a tince, (I'd fain knc w that)» 

Tl:al 1 have positively said, 'Tia so, 
Whtjn it |"»foved olhorwiso ? 

Krni\ Not tliEit 1 know. 

iW. Take lliis from this, iftliis be otherwise. 

[Point ir/g to //is head and shoulders. 
If circumstances lead me, I will find 
Where truth is liid, thoufjh it were hid indeed 
Wilhin the centre. 
, King. How may we try it further? 

Pol. You know, sometimes he walks for hours together 
Here in the lobby. 

Qtwen. 80 he does, indeed. 

Pol. At such a time, I'll loose my daughter to hinn ; 
Mark the encounter : if he love her not. 
And be not from his reason fallen thereon, 
Let me be no assistant for a state, 
But keep a farm, and carters. \Crosses, l. 

King. (11.) We will try it. 

Queen, (r.) But, look, where sadly the poor wretch 
comes reading ! 

Pol. Away, I do beseech you; both away! 
I'll board him presently. [Exeunt King and Queen, r. s. b 

Enter Hamlet, m. d., reading. 

(r. c.) How does my good Lord Hamlet 'I 

Hatn. (l. c) Excellent well. 

Pol. (c.) Do you know me, my lord 1 

Ham. (r. c.) Excellent well : you are a fishmonger 

Pol. Not I, my lord. 

Ham,. Then I would you were so honest a man. 

Pol. Honest, my lord 1 

Ham. Ay, sir ! to be honest as this world goes, is to be 
one man picked out often thousand. 

Pol. That's very true, my lord. 

Ham. For, if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, be- 
ing a god, kissin*^ carrion — Have you a daughter \ 

Pol. 1 have, my lord. 

Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun : conception is u bles 
BiTig; but as your daughter may conceive — friend, look 
to t. [ Turns to the k. and reads. 

Pol (c.) Still ha'-pirg or my daughter! — y3t he knew 



ScBOTt U.] HAMLET. 29 

m« not at first ; he said, I was a fishmcjige: 7*11 speak 
to him agahi. — \Asf(le.] — Wl;at do you read, ny lord ] 

ILim. (u.) Words, vv.wrds, words. 

Pol. What is the matter, my lord ?• 

Ham. Between who ] 

J*ol. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord ? 

Ham. (o.) Slanders, sir; fur the satirical rogue saya 
here, that old men have grey beards : that their faces are 
wrinkled ; their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree 
gum ; and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together 
with most weak hams : all of which, sir, though I most 
powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty 
to have it thus set down ; for yourself, sir, shall bo old as 
I am, if, like a cryb, you could go backward. 

Pol. Though this be madness, yet there's method in't. 
\As'ule.\ Will you walk out of the air, my lord % 

Ham. (n.) into my gi*ave ! 

Pol. Indeed, that is out o'the air. How pregnant some- 
times his replies are ! a happiness that often madness Ints 
on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be 
delivered of. 1 will leave him, and suddenly contiive the 
means of meeting between him and my daughter, (c.) 
\Asidc.\ — My honourable lord, (r. c.) I will most humbly 
take my leave (»f you. 

liatn. Vou cannot, sir, take from me anything that T will 
more wilhngly part withal ; except my life, except my life, 
except my life. \^CrosscSy r. 

Pol. Fare you well, my lord. 

Ham. These tedious old fools ! [Aside. 

Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, i. 

Pol, You go to seek the I Drd Hamlet 1 there he is. 

Ros. (l.) Heaven save you, sir ! [Exit Polo?iius, l. 

Guil. (l.) My honoured lord ! 

Ham. My excellent good friends ! How dost thou, 
>Tui1denstern ? [Crosses, c] Ah, Rosencrantz ? Good lads, 
how do ye both ] What news 1 

Ros. (l. c.) None, my lord; but that the w Drld's grown 
honest. 

Ham, Then is dooms-day near : but your news is not 
tine. In the beaten way of iriendship, what make you sU 
Elsmore 1 



30 HAMLET 



lAer ki. 



Ros Tc visit ynT7, my lord ; no other f »ccasic9. 

Ham Beggar that I am, I fim even poor in thanks! but 
I th&Tik you. Were you not sent for ] Is it your own in- 
clining] Is it a fiee visitation 1 Come, come ; deal justly 
v/ith me ; come ; nay, s})eak. 

Gad. (ii. c.) What should we say, ray lord 1 

Ham. Anything — but to the purpose. You were sent 
for ; and there is a kind of confession in your looks, which 
your modesties have not craft enough to colour ; I know, 
the good king and queen have sent for you. 
, Kos. To what end, my lord ] 

Ham. That you must teach me. But let me conjure 
you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of 
our youth, by the obHgation of our ever-preserved love, 
and by what more dear a better proposei* could chaj-ge you 
withal, be even and direct with me, whether you were 
sent for, or no ] 

Bos. What say you 1 [Aside to Gwhlcnsfcrn. 

Ham. Nay, then, 1 have an eye of you. [-^az^c.J If you 
love me, hold not off' 

Gad. JMy lord, we were sent for. 

Ham. 1 will tell you why ; so shall my anticipation pre- 
vent your discovery, and your secrecy to the King and 
Queen moult no feaihsr. I have of late, (but wherefore, 
I knov/ not,) lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exer- 
cises : and, indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition, 
that this goodly frarr.e, the earth, seems to me a sterile pro- 
montory ; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, 
this biave o'oi'-hanging firmament, this majestical roof fret- 
ted with golden fii"e, why, it a])pears no other thing to mo 
than a ioul and pestilent congregation of vapours. — 
What a piece of work is a man ! How noble in reason ! 
how inuuite in faculties ! in form and moving, how express 
and admirable ! inaction, how like an angel! in appie 
hension, how like a god ! the beauty of tlie world ! the pa 
ragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintes- 
sence of dust? Man delights not me — nor woman nei 
ther: though, by your smiling^, you seem to say so. 

Ros. (r.) My lord, there was no such sturi m my 
thoughts. 

Ha7n. (l.) Why did you laugt then, when I said, 
'* Man delights not me "'I 



SciCiisII.J HAMLET. 31 

Ros. To think, my lord, if you delfght not in man, what 
lenten entertainment the players shail receive from you : 
we mot them on the way ; and hither are they coming, to 
ofl'er you service. 

^ Ham. He that plays the King shall be welcome ; (c.) 
hifl Majesty shall have tribute of me ; the adventurous 
knight shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh 
gratis : the humorous man shall end his part in peace ; and 
ihe lady shall say her mirjd freely, or the blank verse shall 
nalt for't. — What players are they 1 

Ros. Even those you were wont to take such delight in, 
the tragedians of the city. 

Ham. (r.) How chances it they travel ? Their resi- 
dence, both in reputation and profit, was belter both ways. 
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was 
in the city ? Are they so followed '{ 

Ros. No, indeed, they are not. 

Ilain. It is not very stiange : for my uncle is king of 
Denmark ; and those that would make mouths at him 
while ray father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, an hundred 
ducats a-piece, for his picture in little. There is some- 
thing in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it 
out. [Flourish of Trumjjefs, l. 

Gail, (l.) There are the players. 

Ilam. (c.) Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore : 
your bauds ; you are welcome : — but my uncle-father and 
aimt-moiher are deceived. 

Guil. In what, my dear lord ? 

Ham. I am but mad north-north-west : when the wind 
ia southerly, I know a hawk from a hernshaw. \Crosses, r. 

FoL. [ Within, L.] Well be with you, gentlemen ! 

Ham. (r.) Hark you, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz— - 
that groat baby you see there, is not yet out of his svmd. 
«ilJng-clouts. 

Ros. (r.) Happily, he's the second time come to them; 
for, they say, an old man is twice a child. 

H(im, (c.) I will prophecy, he comes to tell me of th« 
players ; mark it. You say right, sir ; o' M )nday morn 
lag; 'twas then, indeed — 

Enter Polonius, l. 
Vol. (c.) My lord, I have news to tell you. 



32 HAMLET. Aov n. 

Ham. MjT lord, I have news to tell fou. 
When K.oscius was an actor in Rome — 

Pol. The actors are come hither, my lord. 

Ham. Buz, buz ! 

Po}. Upon my honour — 

Ham. " Then came each actor on his ass" — 

Pol. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, 
comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pas- 
tv^ral, scene individable, or poem unlimited ; Seneca can- 
I20t be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of 
writ, and the liberty, these are the only men. 

Hai7i. " Oh, Jephthah, Judge of Israel" — what a trea- 
sure hadst thou ! 

Pol. What a treasure had he, my lord ? 

Ham. Why — " One fair daughter, and no more, 
The which he loved passing v/ell." 

Pol (c.) Still on my daughter. [Aside. 

Ham. Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah ] 

Pol. (r. c.) If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a 
daughter that I love passing well. 

Ham. Nay, that follows not. 

Pol. What follows, then, my lord ! 

Ham. VVhy, *' As by lot, God wot" — and then, you 
know, " It came to pass, as most like it was" — The first 
row of the pious chanson will show you more ; for look, 
my abridgment comes. 

[Goes to the Actors, l. — Polonius, Guildcnstern^ and 
liosencrantz stand, r. 

Enter two Actors and an Actress, l. 

You are welcome, masters ; welcome, all. Oh, old friend ! 
Why, thy face is valanced since I saw thee last : Com'sl 
thou to beard me in Denmark ? What, my young lady 
and mistress ! By-'r-lady, your ladyship is nearer to hea- 
ven than when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine. 
You are all welcome. We'll e'en to't like French falcon- 
ers, iiy at anything we see : we'll have a speech straig!)t • 
— Come, give us a taste of your quality : come, apassion- 
nle speech. 
\Thc 2d Actor and Actress retire up the stage, near l. u. E. 

1 Act What speech, my lord 1 

Haiti. I heard fbee speak me a speech Oiice — but it was 



B«Ki:Il] HAMLET. 33 

never acted . cr, if it was not above once : for 'be [lay, 1 
remember, pleased not the milboii ; 'twas caviare io iba 
general: but it was an excellent play; well dig-esled in 
the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cnnnnig. 
One speech in it 1 chiefly loved : 'twas ^Eneas' tale to Di- 
do ; and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of 
Tiiam's slaughter : If it live in your memory, begin at ihii 

line : 

«* The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast" — 
'Tis not so ; it begins with Pyrrhus. 
" The rugged Pyrrhus — he, whose sable arms, 
Black as his purpose, did the night resemble 
Old grandsire Priam seeks." 

Pol. (c.) 'Fore heaven, my lord, well spoken; with gocJ 
accent, and good discretion. 

Ham. (l. c.) So ; — proceed you. 

1 Act. " Anon he finds him 
Striking too short at Greeks ; his antique sword. 
Rebellious to his arm, lies v.'here it fails, 
Repugnant to command. Unequal irzatchcd, 
Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage, strikes wide, 
But wiih the whiff and wind of his fell svrord 
The unnerved father falls. 
But as we often see. against some storm, 
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, 
The bold winds speechless, and the orb below 
As hush as death : anon, the dreadful thunder 
Doth rend the region : So, after Pyrrhus' pause, 
Aroused vengeance sets him new awork, 
And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall 
On Mars's armour, forged for proof eterne. 
With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding swcrd 
Now falls on Priam. — 
Out, out, thoii citrumpet, Fortune !" 

Pol. This is too long. 

Ham. It shall to the barber's, with ycur beard. — Say 
sn : come to Hecuba. 

1 Act. " But who, ah, woe ! had seen the mobled 
q'leen" — 

Ham. The mobled queen ! 

Pol. That's good ; the mobled queen is good. 

1 Act. "Run baiefoot up and down, threatening tho 
flaxnes ; 



34 HAMLET. A -» II 

A clout u^jf^n that head, 

Where late the diadem stood ; and, for a robo, 

A bhmket, in the alarm of fear caught up : 

Who this had seen, with tongue in venom stoeped, 

'Gainst fortune's state would treason have pronounced ?** 

Pol. [Pomlhg to Hcunlet.] Look, whether he has not 
turned his colour, and has tears in's eyes. Pr'ythee, no 
moie. 

Ham. 'Tis well ; I'll have thee speak out the rest of 
this soon. Good my lord, will you see the players well 
bestowed ? Do you hear, let them be well used; for they 
are the abstract and brief chronicles of the time ; after 
your death you were better have a bad epitaph, than their 
ill report while you live. 

Pol. My lord, I will use them according to their desert. 

Ham. Much better. Use every man aiier his dee.ert, 
and who shall 'scape whipping ] Use thom after your 
own honour and dignity; the less they d-^seive, the niore 
merit is in ^''our bounty. Take them in. 

Pol. (l.) Come, sirs. \ To Actors, 

Ham. Follow him, friends ; we'll he?r a play to-mor- 
row. Old friend. — [T^^ ist Actor. 
My good friends, [ To Rosencrantz and GvJldf.vstern.\ I'll 
leave you 'till night ; you are welcome "o Elsiixoi'e. 

[Exeunt Rosencrantz avA Guildenstern, r. 
Can you play the murder of Gonzago 1 

1 Act. Ay, my lord. 

Ham. We'll have it to-morrow nigh*;. You ^f^ould, for 
a need, study a speech of some dozen or six^/^^n lineg, 
which I would set down, and insert in't 1 could, you not I 

1 Act. Ay, my lord 

Hcun. Very well. Follow that lord: and l^-^k yaa 
mock him not. [Exeunt Polonius and J'^^rs, I* 

Now 1 am alone, (c.) 

Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I \ 
Is it not monstrous, that this player here, 
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, 
Could force his soul so to his own conceit. 
That, from her working, all his visage wann^jd: 
Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect, 
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting 
With forms to his conceit 1 And all for nothir^ ^ 



swnbH,] hamlet. 36 

For Hecuba ! 

What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, 

That he should weep for her ] What would he do, 

Had he the' motive. and the cue for passion, 

That I have ] He would drown the stage with toar^;, 

And cleave the general ear with horrid speecJi ; 

Make mad the guilty, and appal tlie free, 

Confound the ignorant, and amaze, indeed, 

1 he very faculties of eyes and ears. 

Yet I, 

A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, 

Jiike John a-droams, unpregnant of my cause, 

And can say nothing ; no, not for a king, 

cTpon whose property, and most dear life, 

A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward ] 

Who calls me villain 1 breaks my pate across ? 

Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face ? 

Tweaks me by the nose 1 gives me the lie i' the throat, 

As deep as to the lungs 1 Who does me this ] 

Ha! 

Why, I should take it : for it cannot be, 

But I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall 

To make oppression bitter; or, ere this, 

I shf)uld have fatted all the region kites 

With this slave's offal : Bloody, bawdy villain ! 

Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! 

Why, what an ass am I 1 This is most brave ; 

That I, the son of a dear father murdered, 

Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, 

Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words. 

And fall a cursing like a very drab, 

A scullion ! 

Fie upon't ! fob ! About, my brains ! Humph ! I nave 

heard. 
That guilty creatures, sitting at a play, 
Have, by the very cunning of the scene. 
Been struck so to the soul, that presently 
They have proclaimed their malefactions ; 
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak 
With most miraculous organ. I'll have these playeiB 
Play something like the murder of my father, 
Bfcfoie mine uncle : I'll observe his looks ; 



36 HAMLET ("Act in 

I'll tent him to the quick ; if he do !)lench, 

1 know my course. The spirit that I have seen, 

May be a devil : and the devil hath power 

To assume a pleasing shape : yea, and, perhaps, 

Out of my w^eakriess, and my melancholy, 

(As he is very potent with such spirits,) 

Abuses me to damn me : I'll have grounds 

More relative than this : The play's the thing, 

Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. [Exii, lu 

END OP ACT II. 



ACT III. 

Scene I. — A Hall in tlie Palace. Theatre in hack Grounds 

Enter PoLONius, King, Queen and Ophelia, l., Rosen- 
ciiANTz and Guildenstern, r. 

King, (b.) And can you, by no drift of conference, 
Get from him, why he puts on this confusion ] 

Ros. (r. c.) He does confess he feels himself distracted; 
But from what cause, he will by no means speak. 

Guil. Nor do we find him forward to be sounded ; 
But with a crafty madness, keeps aloof. 
When we would bring him on to some confession 
Of his true state. 

Queen, (c.) Did you assay him 
To any pastime % 

Ros. Madam, it so fell out, that certain players 
We o'er-raught on the way : of these we told him j 
And there did seem in him a kind of joy 
To hear of it : they are about the court ; 
And, as I think, they have already order 
This night to play before him. 

Pol. 'Tis most true : 
And he beseeched me to entreat your majesties, 
To hear and see the matter. 

King. With all my heart ; and it doth much ontectma 
To hear him so inclined. 
Good gentlemen, give him a further edge, 
Avid drive bis purpose on to these delightis. 



Bern I.J HAMLET 



37 



Ros. We shall, my lord. 

\Exeunt Roscncrantz and Guildcnsiern, a, 
Kmg. Sweet Gertrude, leaves u, too. 
For w'e have closely sent for Hamlet hither; 
That he, as 'twere by accident, may here 
Affront Ophelia : 

Her father and myself (lawful espials,) 
Will so bestow ourselves, that, seeing, unseen, 
We may of their encounter frankly judge ; 
And gather by him, as he is behaved, 
If 't be tiie affliction of his love, or no, 
That thus he suffers for. 

Queen, (r.) 1 shall obey you : — 
And, for your part, Ophelia, I do wish. 
That your good beauties be the happy cause 
Of Hamlet's wildness ; so shall I hope, your virtues 
Will bring him to his wonted way again, 
To both your honours. 

Ojyh. (l.) Madam, I wish it may. \Exit Queen, R. 

Pol. (l. c.) Ophelia, walk you here : 
Fead on this book ; 

That show of such an exercise may colour 
V'our loneliness. 

[Op/iclia goes up the stage, and retires at r. u. e. 
[ bear him coming ; let's withdraw, my lord. 

[Exeunt, r. s. a. 

Enter Hamlet, l, 

Havi. (l.) To be, or not to be, that is the question . 
Wliether 'tis nobler in the mind, to suffer 
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune; 
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles. 
And, by opposing, end them 1 (c.) — to die 1 — to sleep,- 
No more ; — and, by a sleep, to say we end 
'i he heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks 
That flesh is heir to — 'tis a consummation 
l^evoutly to be wished. To die : — to sleep : — 
To sleep ! — perchance, to dream — Ay, there's the rub^ 
For in that sleep of death what dreams may rotne, 
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, 
Must give us pause : there's the respect 
That makes calamity of so long life : 



^ HAMLET. [Act in 

For wh) would bear the whips and scorns of time, 

The oppressor's wrong, the proud niai/s contumely, 

The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, 

The insolence of office, and the spurns 

That patient merit of the unworthy takes, 

When he himself might his quietus make 

With a bare bodkin '? who would fardels bear, 

To groan and sweat under a weary life ; 

But that the dread of something after death — 

The undiscovered country, from whose bourn 

No traveller returns — puzzles the will, 

And makes us rather bear those ills we have, 

Than fly to others that we know not of ? 

\Ophelia re-enters at R. u. B 
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; 
And thus the native hue of resolution 
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought; 
And enterprizes of great pith and moment, 
With this regard, their currents turn awry, 
And lose the name of action. — Soft you now ! 

[Seeing Ophelia, who advances^ R 
The fair Ophelia : — Nymph, in thy orisons 
Be all my sins remembered ! 

Oph. (r.) Good my lord, 
How does your honour for this many a day % 

liam. I humbly thank you ; well. 

Oph, My lord, I have remembrances of yours, 
That I have longed long to re-deliver. 
I pray you, now receive them. 

Ham. No, not I ; 
I never gave you aught. 

Oph. My honoured lord, you know right well, yoi? 4»dl ; 
And, with them, words of so sweet breath composea 
As made the things more rich : their perfume io«tj 
Take these again ; for to the noble mind, 
Rich gifts wax poor, v/hen givers \ rove unkind 
There, my lord. 

Ham. Ha, ha ! are you honest ] 

Ofii. My lord ! 

liam. Are you fair 1 

Oph. What means your lordship % 



icfc»E Lj HAMLET 39 

Ilam. That if you be honest and fair, you shr.ild admit 
your hoiiestv to n<j discourse with your beauty, 

Ojih. Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce 
than with honesty 1 

Ham. Ay, truly ; for the power of beauty will sooner 
transform honesty from what it is to a bawd, than the force 
of iioiiesty can translate beauty into his likeness ; this was 
some time a paradox, but now tho time gives it proof 1 
did love you once, 

0/?A. Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so. 

Ham. You should not have believed me : for virtue 
cannot so inoculate our old stock, but we shall relish of it: 
1 loved you not. 

Oph. I was the more deceived. 

Ham. Get thee to a nunnery. Why would'st thou be a 
breeder of sinners ? 1 am myself indifferent honest : but 
yet I could accuse me of such things, that it were better 
my mother had not borne me : I am very proud, revenoe- 
ful, ambitious ; with more offences at my back, than I have 
thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, 
or tim.e to act them in : what should such fellows as 1 do, 
crawling between earth and heaven ] We are arrant 
knaves, all ; believe none of us ; go thy ways to a nuna» 
ry. — Where's your father % 

Oph. At home, my lo"d. 

Ham. Let the doom's be shut upon him; that he may 
play the fon] no wherf hut in*s own house. Farewell. 

\Fums off, R. 

Oph. (r.) Oh, help him, you sweet Heavens ! 

Ham,. \Bmvs hock to her.\ If thou dost marry, I'll <y\ve 
thee this plague for thy dowry : be tliou as chaste as ice, 
as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee 
to a n'lnnery. Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; 
for wise men know well enough what monsters you make 
f them. To a nunnery, go. ' [Hastens off, l. 

Oph. (k.) Heavenly powers, restore him ! 

Ham. \Rctiirns.\ 1 have heard of your paintinj^s, too, 
well enough , Heaven hath given you one face, and you 
make yourselves another ; you jig, you amble, and you 
lisp, and nickname heaven's creatures, and make y&ur wan- 
tonness your ignorance. Go to ; I'll no more oft ; it hatti 
made me maJ. [Crosses, l.] I say, we will have no more 
d2 



40 HAMLET. [Act in 

marriages • tliose that are married already, all but one, 
sliall live ; the rest shall keep as they are. Tc a iitmnery, 

go. I l^Xit, It. 

OpJi. (c.) Oh, what a nohle mind is here o'erthrowii ! 
The expectancy and rose of the fair state, 
The glass of fasiiion, and the mould of form, 
The observed of all observers, quite, quite down! 
And I, of ladies most deject and w^retched, 
That sucked the honey of his music vows, 
Now see that noble and most sovereign reason, 
Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh. 
Oh, woe is me ! 
To have seen what I have seen, see what 1 see ! [Exit, R. 

Fie-enter King and Polonius, r. s. e. 

King, (r.) Love ! his affections do not that way tend 
Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little, 
Was not like madness, (c.) There's something in his soul. 
O'er which his melancholy sits on brood. 
He shall with speed to England, 
For the demand of our neglected tribute ; 
Haply, the seas, and countries different, 
With variable objects, sliall expel 
This something-settled matter in his heart ; 
Whereon his brain's still beating, puts him thus 
From fashion of himself: — What think you on't ? 

Pol. (c.) It shall do well : but yet I do believe, 
The oi'icvin and commencement of his grief, 
&jprung from neglected love. 
My lord, do as you please ; 
But, if you hold it fit, after the play, 
Let his queen mother all alone entreat him 
To show his grief: let her be round with Lira ; 
And I'll be placed, so please you, in the ear 
Of all their conference: if she find him not. 
To England send him ; or confine him, vvheie 
Your wisdom best shall think. 

King, (l.) It shall be so : 
Madness in great ones must not unv.^atched go. [Exeu,%t, L, 

Enter the First Actor and Hamlet, r 
Mam. (r.) Speak the speech, I pray you, as 1 oronounc 



Bcxtn I.] HAMLET. 4i 

ed it to you, trippingly on the tongue ; but, if you mouth 
it, as many of our phiyers do, J lia-l as licve ifjo town-crier 
Bjjoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much witli 
your hand, thus ; l>ut use all gently : for i>i the very tor- 
rent, tempest, and (as I may say) whirlwind of your p?fs- 
sit^n, you must acquire and beget a temperance, that 
may give it smoothness. Oh, it orf'ends me to the soul, to 
hear a robustious, periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to 
tattets, to very rags, to spht the ears of the groundlings ; 
who, for the most part, are capable of nothing but inexpli- 
cable dumb shows, and noise : I would have such a fellow 
whipped for o'erdoing Termagant ; it out-herods Herod ? 
pray you, avoid it. 

Isi^ Act. (k.) I warrant your honour. 

Ham. Be not too tame, neither; but let your own dis- 
cretion be your tutor : suit the action to the word, and the 
word to the action ; with this special observance, that you 
o'erstep not the modesty of nature : for anything so over- 
done is from the purpose of playing, whose e!id, both at 
the first, and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mir- 
ror up to nature ; to show virtue her own feature, scorn 
her own image, and the very age and body of the time, 
his f)rm and pressure. Now this, over-done, or come tar- 
dy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make 
the judicious grieve ; the censure of which one, must, in 
your allowance, o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. Oh, 
there be players that I have seen play — £tfid heard others 
praise, and that highly — not to speak it profanely, that nei- 
ther having the accent of Christians, nor the gait of Chris- 
tian, Pagan, or man, have so strutted, and bellowed, that 1 
have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men, 
and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abo- 
minably. 

1st Act. I hope we have reformed that indifferently with 
us. 

Ham. (c.) Oh, reform it altogether. And let those, that 
play your clowns, speak no more than is set down for 
them ; for there be of them, that will themselves laugh, to 
set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too ; 
though, in the mean time, some necessary question of the 
play be then to be considered ; that's villainous ; and 
shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses itr Go, 



43 HAMLET. 



[Act III 



make y )u ready. — 

Horatio ! [Exit Ist Actor ^ 5* 

Enter Horatio, r. 

Ilor. (u.) Here, sweet lord, at your service. 

Ham. Hoi-atio, tbou art e'en as just a man 
As e'er my conversation coped withal. 

Hor. Oh, my dear lord ! — 

Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter : 
For what advancement may I hope from thee. 
That no revenue hast, but thy good spirits, 
To feed and clothe thee 1 Why should the poor be flat 

tered 1 
No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, 
And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee, 
Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear 1 
Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, 
And could of men distinguish her election, 
She hath sealed thee for herself: for thou hast been 
As ene» io suffering all, that cuffers nothingf ; 
\ man, tiiat fortune s Dulfets ana re^ arcis 
Hast ta'en with equal thanks : and blessed are those 
Whose blood and judgmetit are so well co-mingled, 
That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger 
To sound what stop she please ; give me that man 
That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him 
In rny heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart. 
As I do thee. Something too much of this. — 
There is a play to-night before the king ; 
One scene of it comes near the circumstance, 
Which I have told thee of my fathex^'s death. 
I pr'ythee, when thou see'st that act a-foot. 
Even with the very comment of thy soul 
Observe my uncle; if his occulted guilt 
Do not itself unkennel in one speech, 
It is a damnetl ghost that we have seen; 
And my imaginations are as foul 
As Vulcan's stithy ; give him heedful note : 
For 1 mine eyes will rivet to his face; 
A^nd. after, we will both our judgments joia 
ai censure of his seeming. 

Hor Well, my lord. [Exit, it. o. ■ 



SCBIfE I.J 



HAMLST. 43 



Ham, They are coming to the play ; I must be idle. 
Get you a place. [Goes and stands, R. — Music. 

Enter Polonius, King, Queen, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, 

GUILDENSTERN, OsRICK, MaRCELLUS, BeRNARDO, FrAN- 

cisco, Lords and Ladies, l. s. e. 

King. [Seated.] How fares our cousin Hamlet 1 
Ham. (r. c.) Excellent, i'faith ; of the camelion's dish: 
I eat the" air, promise-crammed ; you cannot feed capons 

King. I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet ; these 
♦vords are not mine. 

Ham. No, nor mina now. My lord, you played once 
in the university, you say ] \^^^ Polonius. 

Pol. (c.) That did I, my lord ; and was accounted a 
good actor. 

Ham. (c.) And what did you enact ? 

Pol. I did enact .Julius Caesar : I was killed i'the capi- 
r,ol ; Brutus killed me. 

Ham. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf 
there. Be the players ready ] 

Ros. Ay, my lord ; they stay upon your patience. 

Queen. Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me. 

Ham. No, good mother, here's metal more attractive. 

Pol. Oh, ho! do you mark that? [Aside to the King, 

Ham. Lady, shall I lie in your lap ] 

[Lying dow7i at Ophelia's feet, 

Oph. [Seated, r.] You are merry, my lord. 

Ham. Oh ! your only jig-maker. What should a man 
do, but be merry 1 for, look you, how cheerfully my mo- 
ther looks, and my father died within these two houis. 

[Polonius goes and stands at the back of the State 
Chairs, l. ; Horatio stands r. 

Oph. Nay, 'tis twice two months, my lord. 

Ham. So long ? Nay, then, let the devil wear black, 
for I'll have a suit of sables. Die two months ago, and 
not forgotten yet 1 Then there's hope a great man's me- 
mory may outlive his life half a year : but, by'r-ludy, he 
must build churches, then. 

Oph. What means tlie play, my lord ] 

Ham. Miching mallecho ; it means mischief. 

Oph. But what is the argument of the play % 



44 HAMLET. {Act III 

Enter Second Actor as tlie Prologue, on a raised Stage, l. 

Ham. We shall kDow by this fellow. 

\Lies at the feet of Ophelia, and amuses himself with 
her Jan, 

2d Act. " For us, and for our tragedy, 

Here stooping to your clemency, 
' We beg your hearing patiently." [Exitf k. 

JIain. Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring 1 
Oph. 'Tis brief, my lord. 
Ham. As woman's love. 

Enter First Actor and the Actress, l., as a Duke and 
Duchess ; on the raised stage. 

1st Act. " Full thirty times hath Phcebus' cart gone 
round, 
Since love our hearts, and Hymen did our hands 
Unite commutual in most sacred bands." 

Actress. "So many journeys may the sun and m.>on 
Make us as:airi count o'er, ere love be done ! 
But, woe is me ! you are so sick of late. 
So far from cheer, and from your former state, 
That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust. 
Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must ; 
For women fear too much, even as they love. 
Now, what my love is, proof hath made you know; 
And as my love is fixed, my fear is so. 
Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear, 
Where little fears grow e^reat, great love grows there " 

1st Act. "Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shoitly 
too ; 
My operant powers their functions leave to do : 
And thou shalt live in this fair world behind, 
Honoured, beloved, — and, haply, one as kind 
For husband shalt thou" — 

Actress. "Oh, confound the rest ! 
Such love must needs be treason in my breast : 
In second husband let me be accurst ! 
None wed the second, but who killed the first." 

Ham. That's wormwood [Asiiei 

1st Act. " J do believe, you think what now yoi. speak j 
But what we do determine, oft we break. 



SCEBTZ 1] 



HAMLET. 45 



So think thou wilt nj second husband wed, 

But die thy thoughts, when thy first lord is deaa." 

Actress. " Nor eartli to me give food, nor heaven light, 
Sport and repose lock from me, day and night, 
Both here, a'jd hence, pursue me, lasting strife, 
If once a widow, ever 1 be wife !" [Emh?'ac€s him 

1st Act " 'Tis deeply sworn." 

IJa??i. If she should break it now — 

1*^ Act. " Sweet, leave me here aw^hile ; 
My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile 
The tedious day with sleep." [Crosses to the seat — sleeps^ 

Actress. " Sleep rock thy brain ; 
^v.i\ never come mischance between us twain." [Exit, l. 

Ham. Madam, how like you this play 1 

Queen. The lady doth protest too much, methinks. 

Ham. Oh, but she'll keep her word. 

King. Have you heard the argument ] Is there no of^ 
fence in't ] 

Ham. No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest ; no of- 
fence i'the world. 

King. What do you call the play 1 

Ham,. The mouse-trap. Marry, how % Tropically. 
This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna : Gon- 
zago is the duke's name ,• his wife, Eaptista. ^ou shall 
see anon ; 'tis a knavish piece of work : but what of that ] 
your majesty, and we that have free souls, it touches us 
not; let the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung. 

Enter Third Actor as Lucianus, l. 

This is one Lucianus, nephew to the duke. 
Ojyh. You are as good as a chorus, my lord. 
Ham. I eould interpret between you and your love, if 1 
could see the puppets dallying. Begin, murderer — iearo 
thy damnable faces, and be2:in. Come : — 

The croaking: raven 

Doth bellow for reveng^e. 
Kid Act. *• Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and tinaa 
agreeing^; 
Confederate season, else no creature seeing ; 
Tiiou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected, 
With Hecate's ban thiice blasted, thrice infected. 
Thy natural magic, and dire propert;^-. 



£6 HAMLET. [AcTia 

On wholesome life usurp iramediaf;<?ly." 

[Pours th& poison into the sleeper^ s ear, and exit, l. 

Ham, He poisons him i'the garden for his estate. Ilia 

name's Gbnzago ; the story is extant, and written in very 

choice Italian ; you shall see anon, how the murderer gets 

the love of Gonzago's wife. 

King. \Jiimpi'i-ig up.\ Give me some light : — away ! 
Fol. Lights, lights, lights ! 

[Exeunt aJl but Hamlet and Horatio, severally 
Ffam. (c.) " \Vhy, let the strucken deer go weep, 
The hart ungalled play : 
For some must watch, while some must sleep ; 
Thus runs the world away." — 
Oh, good Horatio, I'll take the Ghost's word for a thou- 
sand pound. Didst perceive ] 
Ho/\ (l. c.) V^ery well, my lord. 
Ham. Upon the talk of the poisoning — 
Hor. I diJ very well note him. 

Ham. Ah, ha ! — Come, some music ; come, the recor- 
ders. [Exit Horatio, r. 

Enter Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, l. 

Guil. (l.) Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with 
you. 

Ham. Sir, a whole history. 

Guil. The king, sir — ' '^■ 

Ham. Ay, sir, what of him 1 

Guil. Is in his retirement, marvellous distemperea. 

Ham. With drink, sir ? 

Guil. No, my lord, with choler. 

Ham. Your wisdom should show itself more richer, tu 
Signify this to the doctor ; for, for me to put him to hig 
purgation, would, perhaps, plunge him into riore choler. 

Guil. Good my lord, put your discourse into some frame, 
ai.d start not so wildly from my affair. 

Ham. I am tain©, sir : pronounce. 

Guil. The queon, your mother, in most great afflictioB 
of spirit, has sent me to you. 

Ham. You are welcome. 

Guil. Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the 
right breed. If it shall please you to make me a whole- 
some answei I will do your mother's commandment ; if 



*««»■ I-] HAMLET. 47 

Snesr ^''^'"'*''"' ^"^ ""^ ^^^^"^ sha" ^e the end )f my 

Hdm\ Sir, I cannot. 

<^2^^7. (l. c.) What, my lord 1 

e/^bu^ ^[^ke you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseas- 
ea . but, sii, such answer as I can make, you shall com- 
mand: or. rather, as you say. my mother: therefore no 
mare, but o the matter : my mother, you say- ' 

Juct'h^'^- T "' '^'"' '^'^ '^^''- y«"^ t-ehaviour hath 
struck her mto amazement and admiration. 

thef r\?^ ^^^"^^^•f^l «on, that can so astonish a mo- 
IdmiratronVim;:;^ "^ '''''' " ''' ''^^'' ^^^^^^ --^-'^ 

Bam. We shall obey, were shs ten times our mother 
Have you any further trade with us ^ 

^^. My lord, you once did love me 

fr'r^"f do still by these pickers and stealers. 

Kos. Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper 1 
Jou do surely bar the door upon your own liberty 7vou 
deny your griefs to your friend. ^' ^ " 

IIcwi. Sir, I lack advancement 

iMng nimselt for your succession in Denmark 1 
is f^^iht/g :;;L^^' "'"^ ^ke,rassgrou,s-T,e proverb 
Bnter Horatio a,^.Z^.^^ ilfz..zcm^., r., ,aUk Recorders. - 

T^^'^UA^^'' ' ^^1 ^^^o^^ers, let me see one. \ Takes one 1— 
To withdraw with you '.--[Guilder^sterr. crosL hekiTdtU. 
wu,. A . [Exeu7it Horatio and Miisiciaiis n 

.oottannerl7 ''''' ^^ "' '"^ '^ "^ '^^'' "^^ ^^^ - 

//«^.^ I do not well understand that. Will vmi n]«.v 
upon this pipe ? ^^^ P**y 

g«i^. (l,) My lord, I cannot. 

Ham, (l.) I pray you. 

Guil. Believe me, I cannot. 

tiam. I d(r beseech you. 



48 HAMLET. I^ACT HI, 

jRo9. 1 knew no touch of it, my lord. 

Ilarn. 'Tis as easy as lying : govern these ventages with 
your fingers and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, 
and it will discourse most eloquent music. Look you, 
these are the stops. 

Guil. But these cannot I command to any utterance of 
harmony ; 1 have not the skill. 

Ham. Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you 
make of me ! You would play upon me ; you would seem 
to know my stops ; you would pluck out the heart of my 
mystery; you would sounxl me from my lowest note to tho 
top of my compass : and there is much music, excellent 
voice, in this little organ \ yet cannot you make it speak. 
'Sdeath, do you think I am easier to be pl'ayed on than a 
pipe ? Call me what instrument you will, though you 
may fret me, you cannot play upon me. \^Crosses, r. 

Enter PoLONius, r. 

Pol. (r. c.) My lord, the Queen would speak with you, 
and presently. 

Ham. [Leaning on the shoulder of Polonius.^ Do yo« 
see yonder cloud, that's almost in shape of a camel ] 

Pol. By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed. 

Ham. Methinks, it is like a weasel. 

Pol. It is backed' like a weasel. 

Ham. Or, like a whale ? 

Pol. Very like a whale. 

Ha?n. Then will I come to my mother by-and-bye.— 
They fool me to the top of my bent. I will come by-and- 
bye. 

Pol. I will say so. 

Ham. (r.) By-and-bye is easily said. [Exit PoloiiiiiSy R.j 
Leave me, friends. [Exeunt Rosencrantz 8f Guild., r, 

Tis now the very witching time of night ; 
\\^hen church-yards yawn, and hell itself breathes out 
Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood, 
And do such business as the bitter day 
Would quake to look on. Soft — now to my mother. 
Oh ! heart, lose not thy nature ; let not ever 
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom : 
Let me be cruel — not unnatural : 
L wil^ speak daggers to her, but use none. ' Exit.. R 



Ccznt III.] HAMLET. 49 

Scene II, — A Room in the Talace. 
Enter the King, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, l^ 

King, (c.) I like him not ; nor stands it safe with us, 
To let his madness range. Theref(jre, prepare you : 
I your commission will forthwitli dispatch, 
And he to England shall along with you : 
Arm you, T pray you, to this speedy voyage ; 
For we will fetters put upon this fear, 
Which now goes too free-footed. 

\^Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildensternf L. 

Enter Polonius, r. 

Pol. (r.) My lord, he's going to his mother's closet \ 
Behind the arras I'll convey myself. 
To hear the process ; I'll warrant she'll tax him home ; 
And, as you said, and wisely Vv^as it said, 
'Tis meet that some more audience, than a moth-er, 
Since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear 
The speech of vantage. Fare you well, my liege ; 
I'll call upon you e'er you go to bed, 
And tell you what I know. 

King. Thanks, dear my lord. 

[Exeunt King, r. Polonius^ L. 

Scene III. — The Queen^s Closet. 

Enter Queen and Polonius, l. 

Pol. (l.) He will come straight. Look, you lay liorae 
to him : 
Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with ; 
And that your grace hath screened and stood between 
Much heat and him. I'll sconce me even here. 
Pray you be round with him. 

Queen, (c.) I'll warrant you — 
Fear me not. Withdraw, I hear him coming. 

[Polonius conceals himself behind the arras, l. s. e. 

Enter Hamlet, r. d. 

Ham. (r.) Now, mother, what's the matter ? 

Queen, (l.) Hamlet, *hou hast thy father much offended 



Sb HAMLET. I Act in 

Ham. Mother, j'o % have my father much ciffended. 

Queen. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. 

Ham. (r. c.) Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue 

Queen, (c) Why, how now, Hamlet ] 

Ham. What's the matter now % 

Queen. Have you forgot me ? 

Ham. No, by the rood, not so ; ^ 

Vou are the queen, your husband's brother's wife ; 
And — 'would it were not so !— you are my mother. 

Queen. Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speak. 

Ham. Come, come, and sit you down ; you shall not 
budge ; 
You go not, till I set you up a glass 
Where you may see the inmost part of you. 

Queen. What wilt thou do ] Thou wilt not murder mel 
Help, help, ho ! 

Fol. [Behind.] What, ho ! help! 

Ham. How now, a rat 1 [Draws 

Dead, for a ducat, dead ! [Makes a pass through the arras. 

Fol. [Behind.] Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! [Fails and dies 

Queen, (r. c.) Oh, me ! what hast thou done % 

Ham. Nay, I know not — 
Is it the king % 

Queen. Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this ! 

Ham. A bloody deed ; almost as bad, good mother, 
A.S kill a king, and marry with his brother. 

Queen. As kill a king ? 

Ham. Ay, lady, 'twas my word. 

[ Taken a candle, lifts up the arras, and sees Folonius. 
Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell ! 
I took thee for thy better. \To the Queen, 

Leave wringing of your hands — peace — sit you down. 
And let me wring your heart ; [Gets chairs.] for so I shall, 
If it be made of penetrable stuff; 
If damned custom have not brazed it so. 
That it be proof and bulwark against sense. [Both sit, c. 

Queen, (r. of Hamlet.) What have I done "hat thou dar 'sj 
wag thy tongue 
In noise so rude against me ] 

Ham. Such an act, 
That blurs the blush and grace of modesty j 
Calls virtue, hypocrite : takes off the rose 



IcKsra ni.j 



HAMLET. 61 



From the fair forehead of an innocent love, 

And sets a blister there ; makes marriage vows 
As false as dicers' oaths. Oh ! suah a deed. 
As from the body of contraction plucks 
The very soul ; and sweet religion makes 
A rhapsDciy of words — 
Ah, me 1 that act ! 

Queen. Ah, me ! what act 1 

Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this; 
The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. 
See, what a grace was seated on this brow — 
Hyperion's curls ; the front of Jove himself: 
An eye like Mars, to threaten and command 
A station like the herald Mercury, 
New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill; 
A combination, and a form, indeed, 
Where every god did seem to set his seal, 
To give the world assurance af a man : — 
This was your husband. — Look you now, what fclovn i 
Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear, 
Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes ? 
Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, 
And batten on this moor ] Ha ! have you eyes % 
You cannot call it love : for, at your age, 
The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, 
And waits upon the judgment — and what judgment 
Would step from this to this ] 
Oh, shame ! where is thy blush 1 Rebellious heU, 
If thou canst mutine in a matron's bones, 
To flaming youth let virtue be as wax, 
And melt in her own fire. 

Quf'.en. Oh, Hamlet, speak no more ; 
Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul ; 
And there 1 see such black and grained spots. 
As will not leave their tinct. 

Ham. Nay, but to live 
in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed—— 

Queen. No more, sweet Hamlet. 

Ham. A murderer, and a villain j 
A slave that is not twentieth part the tytho 
Of your precedent lord — a vice of kings ; 
A cutpurse of the empire and the rule i 
e2 



55 HAMLET [Act 111 

That fron. a shelf tne precious diadem stole, 
And put it in his pocket — 

Enter Ghost, r. 

A king of shreds and patches — \T7iey rise. 

Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings, 
You. heavenly guards ! what would your gracicus figure I 
[Looks at the Ghost — the Queen looks a contrary way. 

Queen. Alas ! he's mad. 

Ham. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, 
That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by 
The important acting of your dread command ] 
Oh, say ! 

Ghost, (r.) Do not forget — this visitation 
Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. 
But, look, amazement on thy mother sits : 
Oh, step between her and her fighting soul. 
Speak to her, Hamlet. 

Ham. How is it with you, lady % 

Queen. Alas ! how is't witn you ] 
That you do bend your eye on vacancy, 
And with the incorporal air do hold discourse 1 
Oh, gentle son. 

Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper 
Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look "? 

Ham. On him ! on him ! — Look you, how pale he 
glares ! 
His foim and cause conjoined, preaching to stones, 
Would make them capable. \To Ghost.\ Do not look up- 
on me ; 
Lest, with this piteous action, you convert 
My stern effects ; then what I have to do. 
Will want true colour ; tears, perchance, for blood. 

Queen. To whom do you speak this ? 

Ham. Do you see nothing there 1 ^Pointing, r, 

Queen. Nothing at all ; yet all, that is, I see. 

Ham. Nor did you nothing hear 1 

Queen. No, nothing but ourselves. [Ghost crosses, n, 

Ham. Why, look you there ! look how it steals away I 
My father, in his habit as he lived ! 
Look wheie he goes, even now, out at the portal ! 

^Exit Ghost, u 



0C59KI.J HAMLET. 53 

Queen. This is the very coinage of yoir brain i 
This bodiless creation, ecstasy 
Is very cmning in. 
Ham. Ecstasy ! 
My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time 
And makes as healthful music : it is not madness 
That I have uttered : bring me to the test, 
And I the matter will re-word ; which madness 
Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace, 
Lay not that flattering unction to your soul, 
That not your trespass, but my madness, speaks; 
It will but skin and film the ulcerous place ; 

Whiles rank corruption, mining all within, 
[nfects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven ; 
Repent what's past ; — avoid what is to come. 

Queen. Oh, Hamlet ! thou hast cleft my heart ic twaia 
Ham. (c.) Oh ! throw away the worser part cf it. 

And live the purer with the other half. 

Good night ; but go not to my uncle's bed ; 

Assume a virtue, if you have it not. 

Once more, good night ! 

And when you are desirous to be blessed, 

I'll blessing beg of you. — For this same lord, 

I do repent : 

I will bestow him, and will answer well 

The death I gave him. So, again, good night ! — 

[Exit Queen f r. 

I must be ruel, only to be kind : 

Thus bad egins, and worse remains behind. [Exit, l. 

END OP ACT III. 



ACT IV. 

Scene I. — An Ajpartment in the Palace. 
Enter King and Queen, l. 

King. (l. c.) There's matter in these sighs, these pro 
found heaves, 
Yon must translate ; 'tis fit we understand them ; 
Row does HanjAe/ * 



54 HAMLET. [Act IT 

Quem. (c.) Mad as the sea and \vind, when both con- 
tend 
Which is the mightier — In his lawless lit, 
Behind the arras hearing something stir, 
Whips out his rapier, cries, " A rat ! A rat!^* 
Arid, in this brainish apprehension, kills 
The unseen good old man. 

King. Oh, heavy deed ! 
It had been so with us, had we been there. 
Where is he gone ] 

Queen. To draw apart the body he hath killed. 

King. The sun no sooner shall tlie mountains touch, 
But we will ship him hence ; and this vile deed, 
We must, with all our modesty and skill, 
Both countenance and excuse. — Ho ! Guildenstern ! 

Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, l. 

Friends both, go join you with some further aid; 
Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain, ,^ 
And from his mother's closet hath he dragged him. 
Go seek him out; speak fail*, and bring the body 
Into the chapel. I pray you, haste in this. 

\^Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenste?'n, L, 
Come, (r.) Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends, 
And let them know both what we meai to do, 
And what's untimely done. \Exeunt, r. 

Scene II. — A Roo?n in the ^ ilace. 
Enter Hamlet, l. 

Ham. (l. c.) — Safely stowed — 
Ros. [ Within, r.] Hamlet ! Lord Ha' et ! 
Ham. What noise % who calls ^n Has et 1 Oh, hera 
they come. 

Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, r. 

Ras. (r.) What have you done, my lord, with the dead 
body 1 

Ham. (c.) Compounded it with dust, w^hereto 'tis kin, 

Ros. Tell us where 'tis ; that we may take it thencei 
and bear it to the chapel. 

Ham. Do not believe it 



ScBfTK III.] 



HAMLET. 55 



Ros. Believe what 1 

Ham, That I can keep your counsel, and not mine own. 
Besides, to be demanded of a sp.mge ! — what replication 
should be made by the son of a king? 

Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord ? 

Ham. Ay, sir ; that soaks up the king's countenance, his 
rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king 
best service in the end ; he keeps them, like an ape, in the 
corner of his jaw ; first mouthed, to be last swallowed : — 
when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing 
you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. 

Ros. I understand you not, my lord. 

Ham. I am glad of it: — a knavish speech sleeps in a 
foolish ear. 

Ros, My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and 
go with us to the king. 

Ham, (r.) Bring me to him. [Exeunty R 

Scene III. — Another Apartment in tlie Palace, 

Enter the King, l., attended. 

King. (l. c.) How dangerous is it, that this man go^ii 
loose ! 
Yet must not we put the strong law on him ; 
He's loved of the distracted multitude. 
Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes ; 
And, where 'tis so, the offender's scourge is weighed, 
13ut never the offence. 

Enter Rosencrantz, r. 

How now % what hath befallen 1 

Ros. (r.) Where the dead body is bestowed, my lord, 
We cannot get from him. 

King. But where is he ? 

Ros. Without, my lord, guarded, to know your pleasure 

King. Bring him before us. 

Ros, Ho, Guildenstern ! bring in my lord. 

Enter Guildenstern and Hamlet, r. 

King, (c.) Now, Hamlet, where*s Polonius I 

Ham. At supper. 

King. At sup per ] where % 



66 t HAMLET. LActIT 

Ham, (r. c.) Not where he eats, but where he is eaten 
a certain convocation of polkic worms are e'en at him. 

Kmg. Where is JPolonius ? 

Mam. In hea\en ; send thither to see ; '£ your messew 
ger find him not there, seek him in the other place your- 
self. — But, indeed, if you find him not within this month 
y^u shall nose him as you go up stairs into the lobby. 

King. Go, seek him there. 

Ham. He will stay till you come. \Exit Guildenstern, jl 

King. (l. c.) Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial 
safety, 
Must send thee hence ; 
Therefore prepare thyself : — 
The bavk is ready, and ^he wind at help, 
For England. 

Ham. For England ! 

King. Ay, Hamlet. 

Ha7n Good. 

King. So is it, if thou knewest our purposes. 

Ham. I see a cherub, that sees them. — But, come ; for 
England ! — Farewell, dear mother. 

King. Thy loving father, Hamlet. 

Ham. My mother : — Father and mother is man anci 
wife ; man and wife is one flesh ; and so, my mother. 
Come, for England. [Exit, r. 

King. Follow him at foot, tempt him with speed aboard* 
Away ; for everything is sealed and done — 

[Exit RosencrantZj R, 
And England, (l.) if my love thou hold'st at aught. 
Let it be testified in Hamlet's death. [Exitf L. 

Scene IV. — Anotlier 'Room in the Palace 

Enter tlie Queen and Horatio, l. 

Queen, (l. c.) I will not speak with her. 

Hor, (r.) She is importunate ; indeed, distract : 
'Tweie good she were spoken with ; for she may strew 
Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds. 

Queen. Let her come in. [Exit Horatw, L. 

Oj)k. [ Without, L.] Where is the beauteous majesty o/ 
Denmark 1 

Queen. \Vi.) How now, Ophelia ] 



ScEsralT.J HAMLET. 57 

B'hcni r £Ioratio, with Ophelia, l. — Horatio stands^ LcC, 

and a Jew j^aces hack. 

'Jph. (c.) [Sings.] How should I your true love know 
From another one % 
By his cockle hat and staff, 
And his sandal shoon. 
Queen Alas ! sweet lady, what imports this song ] 
Oph. Say you 1 nay, pray you, mark. 
^Sings.] lie is dead and gone, lady, 
Me is dead and gone ; 
At his head, a grass-green turf, 
At his heels, a stone. 

Enter the King, l., and stands^ l. c. 

Queen. Nay, but, Ophelia — 
Oph. Pray you, mark. 
[Sings] White his shroud as the mountain snow, 
Larded all with sweet flowers, 
Which bewept to the grave did go. 

With true-love showers. [Crosses to the King. 
King. How do you, pretty lady ] 

Oj?h. Well, heaven *ield you ! They say, the owl was 
a baker's daughter. We know what we are, but know no* 
what we may be. 

King. G(jnceit upon her father. 

Oj?h. Pray, let's have no words of this ; but when they 
ask you what it means, say this — 
[Sings.] Good morrow, 'tis Saint Valentine's day, 
All in the morning betime. 
And I a maid at your window, 
To be your Valentine. 
King. Pretty Ophelia! 

Oph. Indeed, without an oath, I'll make an end on't. 
[Sings] Then up he rose, and donned his clothes, 
And dupped the chamber door ; 
Let in the maid, that out a maid, 

Never departed more. [Crosses, r. 

King. IIow long hath she been thus 1 

Oph. (r.) I hope all will be well. We must be patient ; 

but I cannot choose but weep, to think they should lay 

him i the col 3 ground: my brother shall know of it, and 



DO HAMLET. [Aji IV 

SO T thaiik you for your good counsel. Come, my coach | 
Good night, ladies ! good night, sweet ladies ; good night, 
good night. [Exit, n. 

Kitig. (r. c.) Follow her close : give her good watch, I 
pray you. [Exit Horatio, r. 

Oh ' this is the poison of deep grief; it springs 
All from her father's death. [J^oise of arms without, L 

Enter Marcellus, l. 

What's the matter ] 

Mar. Save yourself, my lord ! 
The young Laertes, in a riotous head, 
O'erbears your officers ; the rabble call him, lord ; 
They cry, *' Choose we ; Laertes shall be king !" 
Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds, 
" Laertes shall be king ! Laertes king !" 

[J\''oise witliout, l. 

Laer. [ JVithout, l.) Where is this king % — Sirs, stand 
you all without. 

Enter Laertes, l. 

Oh, tnou vile king ! — 

Give me my fatlier. [Exit Marceli^us, l 

Queen. Calmly, good Laertes. 

haer. (l.] That drop of blood that's calm, proclaims me 
bastard ; 
Cries cuckold, to my father; brands the harlot 
Even here, between the chaste, unsmirched brow 
Of my true mother. 

King, (r.) What is the cause, Laertes, 
That tliy rebellion looks so giant-like 1 — 
Let him go, Gertrude ; do not fear our person ; 
There's such divinity doth hedge a king. 
That treason can but peep to what it would. 
Let him go, Gertrude. 

Laer. Where's my father % 

King. Dead. 

Queen, (c.) But not by him. 

King. Let him demand his fill. 

Itsier. (l. c.) How came he dead 1 I'll not be juggled 
with : 
To hell, allegiance ! 



ScEas IV.J HAMLET S9 

To this point I stand, — 
That both the worlds I give to negligence, 
Let come what comes ; only I'll be revengei 
Most thoroughly for my father. 

King. Who shall stay you 1 

Laer. My will, not all the world's : 
And for my means, I'll husband them so well, 
They shall go far with little. 

King. (r. c.) Good Laertes, 
That I am guiltless of your father's death, 
And am most sensibly in grief for it, 
It shall as level to your judgment 'pear, 
As day does to your eye. 

Hor^ [ WitJiout, R.] Oh, poor Ophelia ! 

King. Let her come in. 

Enter Ophelia, r., fantastically hedecJced with long wki^t 
Straws and Flowers. 

Laer. (l. c.) Oh, rose of May — 
Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia ! 
On, heavens ! is it possible, a young maid's wits 
Should be as mortal as an old man's life 1 

Oi)li. \Sings.\ They bore him bare-faced on the bier; 
And in his grave rained many a tear; — 
Fare you well, my dove! 

hacr. (c.) Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade re 
venge, 
It could not move thus. 

Opli. (c.) You must sing : \Sings?^ 

Down a-down, an' you call him a-down-a. 
Oh, how the wheel becomes it ! It is the false steward, 
that stole his master's daughter. 

Liaer. This nothing's more than matter. 

Oph. \To Laertes.] There's rosemary, that's forremem 
brance ; pray you, love, remember ; and there is pansies, 
that's f?r -thoughts. 

Laer. A document in madness ; thoughts and remein 
brance fitted. 

Oph. There's fennel for you, and columbines ''To the 
King, R. G.] There's rue for you, [To the Queen, r.] and 
here's some for me : — we may call it herb of grace o'Sun- 
days — you may wear your rue with a difference. — There's 

F 



iJb HAMLET. 



[Act IV 



a da:3vi> I would give you some violets, but they withered 
all wheu ay father died. — They say he made a good end 
— [Sings] — " For my bonny sweet Robin is all my 'oy." 

Laer. Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself, 
She turns t3 favour, and to prettiness. 
Opk. \Sijigs. — Kneeling, r. c] 

And will he not come again 1 
And will he not come again ] 
No, no, he is dead. 
Go to thy death-bed. 
He never will come again. 
[Rrses.] — His beard was as v/hite as snow, 
All flaxen was his poll : 
(c.) — He is gone, he is gone, 

And we cast away moan ; 
And peace be with his soul ! 
And with all christian souls ! I pray heaven. 

[Exeunt Ophelia and Queen^ i* 
King, (r.) Laertes, I must commune with your grief 
Or you deny me right. Go but apart, 
Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will, 
And they shall hear and judge 'twixt you and me ; 
If by direct, or by collateral hand 
They find us touched, we will our kingdom give, 
Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours, 
To you in satisfaction ; but, if not. 
Be you content to lend your patience to us, 
And we shall jointly labor with your soul, 
To give it due content. 

JLaer. (r. c.) Let this be so ; 
His means of death, his obscure funeral, — 
No trophy, sword or hatchment, o'er his bones, 
No noble right, nor formal ostentation — 
Cry to be heard, as 'twere, from heaven to earthy 
That I must call't in question. 

King, So you shall ; 
Vnd, where the offence is, let the great axe fall. 

[Exeunti n. 

Scene "V'. — An Apartment in the Palace. 

Enter Horatio and Francisco, r. 

llor (r.) What are they that would speak with me 



.«i«TI.J HAMLET §1 

Fran, (r.) Sailors, sir : 
They say they have letters for you. 

lior. (r. o.) Let them come in, — [Exit Fiandtco, L. 
[ do not know from what part of the world 
i should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet. 

Enter two Sailors, l. 

1st Sail, (l.) Heaven bless you, sir. 

Uor. Let him bless thee too. 

1*^ Sail. He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a letter 
for you, sir — it comes from the ambassador that was bound 
for England — if Your name be Horatio, as I am let to know 
It is. 

Ilor. [Reads the letter?^ " Horatio, when thou shalt have 
overlooked this, give these fellows some means to the 
King ; they have letters for him, Rosencrantz and Guil- 
denstern hold their course for England ; of them I have 
much to tell thee. — A pirate of very warlike appointmenJ. 
gave us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put 
on a compelled valour, and in the grapple, I boarded them : 
on the instant, they got clear of our ship ; so I alone be- 
came their prisoner. They have dealt with me like thieves 
of mercy ; but they knew what they did ; 1 am to do a 
good turn for them. Let the King have the letters I have 
Bent ; and repair thou to me, with as much naste as thou 
would St fly death. These good fellows will bring theQ 
where I am. Farewell. 

" He that thou knowest thine, 

" Hamlet." 
Come, I will give you way for these your letters, (l.) 
And do't the speedier, that you may direct me 
To him from whom you brought them. [Exeunt^ l 

Scene VL — A Room in the Palace. 
Enter the King and Laertes, r. 

King, (o.) Now must your conscience my acquittance 
seal: 
8ilh you have heard, and with a knowing ear, 
That he, which hath your noble father slain, 
Pursued my life. 

haer. (ii. c.) And so have I a noble father lost ; 



62 HAMLET. [AcTlir 

A sister driven nto desperate terms ; 

Whose worth, 

Stood challenger on mount of all the ajje 

For her perfections : but my revenge will come. 

King. Break not your sleeps for that : you must not 
think, ^ 

That we are made of stuff so flat and dull. 
That we can let our beard be shook with danger, 
And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more.-" 
How now ] What news 1 

Enter Bernardo, l. 

Be7\ (l. c.) Letters, my lord, from Hamlet : 
This to your majesty ; this to the Queen. 

King. From Hamlet ! Who brought them 1 

Ber. Sailors, my lord, they say ; I saw them not. 

King. Laertes, yf)u shall hear them. 
Leave us. [To Berna?'do, who c?-osses and exits, r. 

[Reads.] ** High and mighty, you shall know, I am set na- 
ked on your kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave to 
see your kingly eyes : when I shall, first asking your par- 
don thereunto, recount the occasion of my sudden and 
more strange return. '' Hamlet." 

What should this mean 1 Are all the rest come back 1 
Or is it some abuse, and no such thing 1 

Lacr. (r.) Know you the hand ] 

King. 'Tis Hamlet's character. — " Naked"— 
And, in a postcript here, he says, " alone." 
Can you advise me 1 

Laer. I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come ; 
It warms the very sickness in my heart, 
That I shall live and tell him to his teeth, 
" Thus diddest thou." 

Ki?ig. If it be so, Laertes, 
Will you be ruled by me 1 

Laer. Ay, my lord ; ^^ 

So you will not o'er-rule me to a peace. 

King. To thine own peace. If he be now leturned— 
As checking at his voyage, and that he means 
No more to undertake it — I will work him 
To an exploit, now ripe in my device, 
Under the which he shall not choose but fall ; 



cam fi.] HAMLET. S3 

And for his death no wind of blame slial breath©; 
But even his mother shall uncharge the practice, 
And call it, accidrn;. 

Laer. My lord, I will be ruled ; 
The rather, if you could devise it so, 
That I might be the organ. 

King. It falls right. 
You have been talked of since your travel much. 
And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality 
Wherein, they say, you shine. 

Laer. What part is that, my lord ? 

King. A very ribband in the cap of youth. 
Here was a gentleman of Normandy — 
He made confession of you; 
And gave you such a masterly report 
For art and exercise in your defence, 
And for your rapier most especial, 
That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed, 
If one could match you ; 
This report of his, 

Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy, 
That he could nothing do, but wish and beg 
Your sudden coming o'er to play with you. 
Now, out of this — 

Laer. What out of this, my lord 1 

King. Laertes, was your father dear to you 1 
Or, are you like the painting of a sorrow, 
A face without a heart 1 

Laer. Why ask you this ? 

King. Hamlet comes back : what would you undeil*k« 
To show yourself in deed your father's son. 
More than in words ? 

Laer. To cut his throat i'the church. 

King. No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize, 
Hamlet, returned, shall know you are come home: 
We'll put on tliose shall praise your excellence. 
And set a double varnish on the fame 
The Frenchman gave you; bring you, in fine, togethei 
And wager o'er your heads : he, being remiss, 
Most generous, and free from all contriving, 
Will not peruse the foils ; so, that with ease, 
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose 
f2 



64 HAMLE': 



l^cvT 



A sword unbated, and, in a pass of practice, 
Requite hira for your father. 

Laer. I will do't : 
Anil, for the purpose, I'll anoint my sword. 
I bought an unction of a mountebank, 
So mortal, that, but dip a knife in^ it, 
Where it draws bloo'37 iio cataplasm so rare, 
Collected from all simples that have virtue 
Under the moon, can save the thing from death, 
That is but scratched withal : \I'll touch my point 
With this contagion ; that, if I gall him slightly, 
It may be death. 

King. Let's further think of this ; 
We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings. 
When in your motion you are hot and dry, 
(As make your bouts more violent to that end,) 
And that he calls for drink, I'll have preferred him 
A- chalice for the nonce ; whereon but sipping, 
If he by chance escape your venomed stuck. 
Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise ? 

Enter the Queen, l. 

Queen, (l.) One woe floth tread upon another's heel, 
So fast they follow : — your sister's drowned, Laertes. 

Lac?', (r..) Drowned ! OIt, where ] 

Queen, (c.) There is a willow grows ascaunt the brook 
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream : 
Therewith fantastic garlands did she make 
Of crow-fiowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples j 
There on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds 
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke ; 
When down her weedy trophies, and herself, 
Fell in the weeping brook. 

Laer. I forbid my tears : — but yet 
It is our trick ; nature her custom holds, 
Let shame say what it will : — 
Adieu, my lord ! 

I have a speech of fire, that fain would blazo, 
Uizt that this folly drowns it. 

[Exeunt Laertes, r., Km^ and Queen, L. 

END OF ACT IV. 



leBKS I. KAMLEI 65 

ACT V 

Scene I. — A Cliurcli- Yard. 
Writer tioo Grave-Diggers, l. s. e. 

1st Grave, (c.) Is she to be buried in christian ouria., 
that wilfully seeks her own salvation 1 

2d Grave, (c.) I tell thee, she is ; therefore, make her 
gi'ave straight ; the crowner hath set on her, and finds it 
christian burial. 

1st Grave, (r.) How can that be, unless sh'e drowned 
herself in her own defence 1 

2d Grave. Why, 'tis found so. 

1*^ Grave. It must be se offendendo ; it cannot be else. 
(r. c.) For here lies the point : if I drown myself witting- 
ly, it argues an act ; and an act hath three branches ; it is, 
to act, to do, and to perform, Argal^ she drowned herself 
wittingly. 

2d Grave. Nay, but heai you, goodraan delver. 

1st Grave. Give me leave. \Crosses, l.] Here lies the 
water; good: \^Crosses, r.] here stands the man; good.^ 
If the man go to this water, and drown himself, it is, will 
he, nill he, he goes : mark you that : but, if the water 
come to him, and drown him, he drowns not himself. Ar- 
gal, he that is not guilty of his own death, shortens not his 
own life. 

2d Grave. But is this law ] 

1.?^ Grave. Ay, marry is't, crown er's-quest law. 

2d Grave. Will you ha' the truth on't 1 If this had not 
Deen a gentlev/cman, she should have been, buried out oi 
christian burial. 

1st Grave. Why, there thou say'st ; and the more pity, 
that great folks should have countenance in this world to 
drown or hang themselves, more than their ever Christian. 
(c.) Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentlemen but 
gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers ; they hold up 
Adam's profession, 

2d Grave. Was he a gentleman ? 

1st. Grave. He was the first that ever bore arms. I'll 
put a question to thee : if thou answerest me not to thu 
purpjse, confess thyself — 



66 H/iMLET. j-AcT V 

2^? Grave. Go to. 

l*^ Grave. What is he, that builds stronger than eithei 
the mason, shipwright, or the carpenter 1 

2d Grave. The gallows maker ; for that frame out-lives 
a thousand tenants. 

1st Grave. I like thy wit well, in good faith ; the gallows 
does well. But how does it well % it does well to those 
that do ill : now thou dost ill to say the gallows is built 
stronger than the church. Argal, the gallows may do well 
to thee. To't again : come. 

2d Grave. Who builds stronger than a mason, a ship 
Wright, or a carpenter % 

\st Grave. Ay, tell me that, and unyoke. 

2d Grave. Marry, now I can tell. 

1.9^ Grave. To't. 

2d Grave. Mass, 1 cannot tell. 

\st Grave. Cudgel thy brains no more about it; fevyour 
dull ass will not mend his pace with beating ; and,, when 
yru are asked this question next, say, a grave-maker; the 
houses that he makes, last till doomsday. Go, get thee tc 
Yaughan, and fetch me a stoup of liquor. 

[Exit 2d Grave-digger, l. — 1*^ Grave-digger nngs whil$ 
digging. 

In youth, when I did love, did love, 

Methought it was very sweet, 
To contract, oh, the time, for, ah, my behove, 

Oh, methought there was nothing meet 1 

Enter TLaiaIjWT and Horatio, and stand heJiindtlie Grave, c. 

Ham. Has this fellow no feeling of his business 1 he 
sings at grave-making. 

Ilor. (r. c.) Custom hath made it in him a property ol 
easiness. 

Ham. (r. c.) 'Tis e'en so : the hand of little ernploy 
ment hath the daintier sense. 

[Grave-digger sings.] 

But age, with his stealing steps, 

Hath clawed me in his clutch, 
And hath shipped me into the land. 

As if I had never been such. 

[Throws up a skull. 



gCBKBl.] HAMLET. 67 

Ham. That sli nil bad a tongue in it, an J could sVig once. 
How tlie knave jowls it to the ground as if it were Cain's 
jaw-bone, that did the first murder ! This might be the 
pate of a politician, which this ass now o'er-reaches ; one 
that would circumvent heaven ; might it not % 

[The Grave-digger tliroxcs up hones, 

Ilor. It might, my lord. 

Ham. Did these bones cost no more the breeding, but 
to play at loggats with them % Mine ache to think on't. 

[Grave-digger sings.^ 

A pick-axe and a spade, a spade, 

For — and a shrouding sheet : 
Oh, a pit of clay for to be made 

Fcr such a guest is meet. 

[Throws up another skull. 

Ham. There's another. Why may not that be the skull 
of a lawyer '] Where be his quiddits now, his quillets, his 
cases, his tenures, and his tricks 1 Why does he suffer 
this rude knave now to knock him about the sconce with 
a dirt^' shovel, and will not tell him of his action of bat- 
tery 1 I will speak to this fellow. — Whose grave's this, 
sirrah "^ 

1st xravc. Mine, sir. 

)Sin^ J Oh, a pit of clay for to be made 
For such a guest is meet. 

Hum. I think it be thine, indeed ; for thou liest in it. 

1*^ Grave. [Digging.] You lie out on't, sir, and therefore 
it is not yours ; for my part, I do not lie in't, yet it is mine. 

Ham. Thou dost lie in't, to be in't, and say it is thine ; 
'tis for the dead, not for the quick ; therefore thou liest. 

l5^ Grave. 'Tis a quick lie, sir ; 'twill away again from 
me to you. 

Ham. What man dost thou dig it for ? 

l^,* Grave. For no man, sir. 

Ham. What woman, then 1 

1st Grave. For none neither. 

Ham. Who is to be buried in't 1 

1st Grave. One that was a womar, sir; but, rest hei 
soul ! she's dead. 

Ham. How absolute the knave is ' We must speak by 



69 HAMLET Act T 

the card, or equivocation will indo m. How li ng hast 
thou been a grave-maker ! 

1*^ Grave. [Leana on his spade.] Of ai the clays I'the 
-'ear, I came to't that day that our last king Hamlet over- 
came Fortinbras. 

Ham. How long is that since % 

1st Grave. Cannot you tell that 1 every fool can tell that; 
it was that very day that young Hamlet was born ; he that 
is mad, and sent into England. 

Ham. Ay, marry, why was he sent into England ] 

Isi Grave. Why, because he was mad. He shall reco- 
ver his wits there ; or, if he do not, 'tis no great mattei 
there. 

Ham. Why 1 

1st Grave. 'Twill not be seen in him there ; there th# 
men are as mad as he. 

Ham. How came he mad 1 

1st Grave, Very strangely, they say. 

Ham. How strangely 1 

1st Grave. 'Faith, e'en with losing his wits. 

Ham. Upon what ground 1 

1st Gi'ave. Why, here in Denmark. 1 have been sexton 
here, man and boy, thirty years. 

Ham. How long will a man lie i'the earth ere he rot 1 

1*^ Grave. [Sitting on the side of the grave, his face tO' 
wards the audience.] 'Faith, if he be not rotten before he 
die, he will last you some eight year, or nine year : a tan 
ner will last you nine year. 

Ham. Why he more than another 1 

1*^ Grave. Why, sir, his hide is so tanned with his trade, 
that he will keep out water a great while ; and your water 
is a sore decayer of your whoreson dead body. \S>tands in 
the grave again, and turns over the earth and hones thrown 
ifji?.] Here's a skull, now, hath lain you i'the earth three- 
and -twenty years. 

Ham. Whose was it ? 

1st Grave. A whoreson mad fellow's it was. Whose do 
yo\i think it was 1 

Ham. Nay, I know not. 

1.?^ G'rave. A pestilence on him for a mad rogue ! \Pati 
ike skull with his ka?id.] He poured a tlaggcn of Rhenish 



SesRE I J 



HAMLET. 69 



on my head once! This same skull, sir, was Yorick'a 
ekull, the king's jester. [Gives skull 2fp to Hamlet^ a. 

Ham. This 1 

1st Grave. E'en that. 

Ham. Alas! poor Y^rick! I knew him, Horatio; a 
fellow of infinite jest, cf most excellent fancy. He hath 
home me on his back a thousand times. Here hung those 
lips that I have kissed 1 know not how oft. Where be 
your gibes now % your gambols 1 your songs ? your flashes 
of merriment, that were wont to set the table in a roar] 
Not one now, to mock your own grinning ] quite chap-fal- 
len % Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, 
let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come : 
make her laugh at that. — Pr'ythee, Horatio, tell me one 
thing. 

Hor. What's that, my lord 1 

Ham. Dost thou think that Alexander looked o'this fa- 
shion i'the earth % 

Hor. E'en so. 

Ham. And smelt so % pah ! \hays down the slull 

Hor. E'en so, my lord. 

Ham. To what base uses we may return, Horatio ! 
Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexan- 
der, till he find it stopping a bung-hole ] 

Hor. 'Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so. 

Ham. No, 'faith, not a jot; but to follow him. thither M^ith 
modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it : As thus, Alex- 
ander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returned tc 
dust ; the dust is earth ; of earth we make loam : and why 
of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop 
a beer-barrel 1 

Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, 
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away : 
Oh, that the earth, which kept the world in awe. 
Should patch a wall, t'expel the winter's flaw ! [Bell toJh 
But soft ! but soft ! aside : — here comes the king. 
The queen, the courtiers. W^ho is this they follow 1 
And with such maimed rites ! This doth betoken, 
The corse they follow did, with desperate hand, 
F'jredo its own life. 'Twas of some estate : 
Couch we awhile, and mark. 

[Retires with Horatio, r. — Bell toUt 



'0 HAMLET. [ACT^ 



Enter King, QueeN; Laertes, Lo?-ds, Ladies, Priests, ^. 
through the gates, attending the corpse o/* Ophelia, l. u. h 
— [Bell tolls.) — Attendants, with torches, stand up the l 
side of stage. King and Queen stand c. heyond the grave 
Priest at r. end. 1st Grave-digger, at the l. end. 

haer. (l.) What ceremony else ? 

Ham. (r.) Thai is Laertes, 
A very noble youth. [Aside to HorrXva 

Priest. Her obsequies have been as far enlarged 
As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful; 
And, but that great command o'ersways the order, 
She should in ground unsanctified have lodged 
Till the last trumpet; for charitable prayers, 
Shards, flints, and pebbles, should be thrown on her*, 
Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants, 
Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home 
Of bell and burial. 

Laer, Must there no more be done 1 

Priest. No more be done ? 
We should profane the service of the dead, 
To sing a requiem, and such rest to her, 
As to peace-parted souls. 

haer. Lay her i'the earth ; — 
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh, 
May violets spring ! — I tell thee, churlish Priest, 
A miriist'ring angel shall my sister be, 
When thou liest howling. 

Ham. What, the fair Ophelia ! 

Queen. Sweets to the sweet : farewell ! 

[Takes a basket from a Lady, and scatters flowen 

I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife : 
I thought thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid, 
And not have strewed thy grave. 

Jjaer. Oh, treble woe, 
Fall ten times treble on that cursed head. 
Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense » 
Deprived thee of! — Hold off the earth awhile, 
Till I have caught her once more in mine arms : 

[Leaps into the grawt 
Now Dile your dust upon the quick and dead. 



A ^63KB I '^ HAMLET. ^ ^ 

T V o'en ;op old Pelion, or the skyish head 
Ol ui«ic 01ym])iis. 

j.iam. [Advancing.] What is he whose grief 
Dears such an emphasis 1 Whose phrase of son'ow 
Conjures the vvand'ring stars, and makes them stand 
Like wonder-wounded hearers ? This is I, 
Hamlet the Dane. 

Laer. (r. c.) The devil take thy soul ! 

\Lc.apingjmt of the grave, and grappling with him. 
Ham. Tliou pray'st not well. 
I pr'ythee, take thy fingers from my throat ; 
For, though I am not splenetive and rash, 
Vet have I in me something dangerous, 
Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand ! 

King. Pluck them asunder. [They are parted 

Ham. Why, I will fight with him upon this theme, 
(Jntil my eye-lids will no longer wag. 
Queen. C)h, my son ! what theme 1 
Ham. I loved Ophelia ; forty thousand brothers 
Could not, with all their quantity of love, 
Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her ] 
Queen. Oh, he is mad, Laertes. 
Ham. Come, show me what thou'lt do : 
Woul't weep 1 woul't fight % woul't fast ? v^^cuFt J:*^ 

thyself] 
I'll do it. Dost thou come here but to whine ? 
To outface me with leapinof in her ofiave % 
De buried quick with her, and so will I : 
And, if thou piate of mountains, let them throw 
Millions of acres on us , till our ground, 
Singing his pate against the burning zone, 
Make Ossa like a wart ! Nay, an thou'lt mouth, 
I'll rant as well as thou. 

Queen, (l.) This is mere madness; 
And thus awhile the fit will work on him; 
Anon, as patient as the female dove, 
When that her golden couplets are disclosed, 
His silence will sit drooping. 

Ham. Hear you, sir ; 
What is the reason that you use me thus I 
I loved you ever : but it is no matter : « 

Let Hercules himself do what he may, 



72 ilAMLET 



[ACT^ 



The cat \yiM mew, and dog v^rih have his daj ,^ Sa^f, s 

King. I pray Ihee, good Hointio, wait upon him. 

[Exit Horatio^ r 
Strengthen your pauence in our iast night's speech ; 

[To Laertet 
We'll put the matter to the present push. 
Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son. 

[Exeunt tiing, i^uecn, and Eadies, L. u. E 
This grave shall have a hving mtjiiument : 
An hour of quiet thereby shall we see ; 
Till then, in patience, our proceeding be. [Bell tolls 

[Exeunt Bearers and Attendants through the gates, L. u. e. 

Scene II. — A Hall in the Palace 
Enter Hamlet aud Horatio, r. 

Ham. But I am veiy sorry, good Horatio, 
That to Laertes I forgot myself; 
For, by the image of my cause, I see 
The portraiture of his. 

Hor. Peace. Who comes here % 

Enter Osrick, l. 

Osr. (l.) Your lordship is right welcome back to Y)qw 
mark. 

Ham. (r. c.) I humbly thank you, sir. Dost know thia 
water-fly ? [Aside to Horatio. 

Hor. (r. c.) No, my good lord. 

Ham. Thy state is the more gracious : for 'tis a vice to 
know him. 

Osrick. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure I 
should impart a thing to you, from his majesty. 

Hum. I will receive it, sir, with alTdiligence of spirit.— 
Your bonnet to his right use ; 'tis for the head. 

Osrick. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot. 

Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold, the wind is nor 
tberly. 

Osrick. It is indifferent cold ; my lord, indeed. 

Ham. But yet, methinks, ii is very su?rry and hot ; oi 
my complexion — 

OsriciC. Exceedingly, my lord ; it is Tcry sultry — aa 
tv», ere — I cannot tell how. — My lord, his majesty baderae 



ecESE II.] HAMl.ET. 73 

feigidfy to yoH, that he nas laid a great wager ^n your head; 
sir, this is the matter — 

Ham. I beseech you, remember — 

[Sig7is to him to put on his hat. 
Osrick. (c.) Nay, good my lord ; for my ease, in good 
faitli — Sir, here is newly come to court, Laertes ; believe 
mc, an absolute oentleman, full of most excellent differ- 
ences, of vei-y soft society, and great showing; indeed, to 
speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of gen- 
try ; for you shall find in him, the continent of what part a 
gentleman v/ould see, 

Hmn. What imports the nomination of this gentleman 1 

Osrick. Of Laertes 1 

Hdw.. Of him, sir. 

Osrick. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laer- 
tes is — 

Ham. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare witn 
him in excellence ; but, to know a man well, were to know 
himself 

Osrick, I mean, sir, for his weapon. 

Ham. What is his weapon % 

Osrick. Rapier and dagger. 

Havi. That's two of his weapons : — But, well — 

Osrick. The king, sir, hath wagered with him, six Bai 
bary horses : against the which he hath' impawned, as I 
take it, six P'rench rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, 
at: gi-dle, hangers, and so : Three of the carriages, in faith, 
are very dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most 
delicste carriages, and of very liberal conceit. 

Ham. What call you the carriages 1 

Osrick. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. 

Ham. The phrase would be more germ an tothemattei, 
if we could carry a cannon by our sides. 

Osrick. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes 
between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three 
hits : and it would come to immediate trial, if your lord- 
fthip would vouchsafe the answer. 

Ham. How., if I answer, no ] 

Osrick. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person 
in trial. 

Ham. Sir, it is the breathing time of day with me : let 
tbe fills be brought ; the gentleman willing, and the King 



T4 HAMLET. 



[A-ctV 



hold his purpose, I Vv^ll win for him, if 1 can : if not, I wiF 
gain nothing but my shame, and the odd hits. 

Osrick. Shall I deliver you so ] 

Ham. To this effect, sir ; after what flourish your natura 
will. 

Osrick. I commend my duty to your lordship. [Exity L 

Ilor, (l.) You wiH lose this wager, my lord. 

Ham. (c.) I do not think so ; since he went into France, 
I have been in continual practice ; 1 shall win at the odds. 
But thou wouldst not think, how ill all's here about my 
heart : but it is no matter. 

llor. Nay, good my lord — 

Ham. It is but foolery : but it is such a kind of gain-gi- 
ving, as would, perhaps, trouble a woman. 

Hor. If your mind dislike anything, obey it : I will fore 
Btall their repair hither, and say you are not fit. 

Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury ; there is a special 
providence in the fall of a sparrow. [Exeunt, l. 

Scene III. — The Court of DcnmarJc. 

King and Queen, seated ; Laertes. Osrick, Marcellus, 
Bernardo, Francisco, Lords, and Ladies discovered. — 
Flourish of Trumpets. 

Enter Hamlet and Horatio, l. 

King. [Rises and comes forward, c.) Come, Hamiet. and 
take this hand from me. 

[Joi7iing Hamlefs and Laertes* hand 

Ham. (c.) Give me your pardon, sir ; I 've done yoc 
wrong. \To Laertci. 

But pardon it, as you're a gentleman. 
Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil, 
Free me so far in your most j^enerous thoughts, 
That I have shot my aiTow o'er the house^ 
And hurt my brother. 

Laer. (c.) I am satisfied in nature, 
Whose motive, in this case, should stir ms most 
To my revenge : — 

I do receive your offered love like love, 
And will not wrong it. 

Ham. I embrace it freely ; 



Jj;£SE HI.] HAMLb 

And will this brotlier's wager fr xnkly play. 
Give us the f(.ils. 

Laer. Come, one for me. 

Ham, I'll be your foil, Laertes ; in mine ignorance, 
your skill shall, like a star i'the darkest nidit. 
Stick fiery off indeed. 

Laer. You mock me, sir. 

Ham. No, by this hand. 

King. Give them the foils, young Osrick. Cousin Ham 
let, 
You know the wager 1 [Returns to tJie tJirone 

Ham. Very well, my lord ; 
Your grace hath laid the odds o'the weaker side. 

King. I do not fear it ; 1 have seen you both ; — 
But since he's bettered, we have therefore odds. 

Lacr. (r.) [Examining the Jbils.] This is too heavy ; let 
me see another. 

Ham. (l.) This likes me well— these foils have all a 
length 1 

Osrick. (r.) Ay, my good lord. * 

King. [Seated on the throne.] Set me the stoups of wine 
upon that table ; 
If Hamlet give the first or second hit, 
Or quit in answer of the third exchange, 
Let all the battlements their ordnance fire ; 
The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath , 
And in the cup an union shall he throw. 
Richer than tliat which four successive king's 
In Denmark's crown have worn. — Give me the cups ; 

[To Francisco, 
And let the kettle to the trumpet speak — 
The trumpet to the cannoneer without — 
The cannons to the heavens — the heaven to earth — 
Now the king drinks to Hamlet. [Drinks, 

[Drums and Trumj^ts sound — Cannons withtn. 
Come, begin ; 
And you, the judges, bear a wary eye. 

Him. Come on, sir. 

Laer. Come, my lora \They pla% 

Ham. One. 

Laer. No. 

Ham. Judgment. 
82 



T6 HAMLET. [Act f 

Osrick. A hit, a very palpable hit. 
Laer. Well — again — 

King. Stay, give me drink. — Hamlet, this pearl is thine ; 
Here's to thy health. [Pretends to drink, 

[Drums and Trumpets sound — Cannons shot ojf within^ 
frive him the cup. 

Ham. I'll play this bout first; set it by awhile. 
C'jme — [They play,] — another hit ! — What say you 1 
haer. A touch, a touch, I do confess. 
King. Our son shall win. 
Queen. The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet. 

[The Queen dj-inks, and returns the cup to Francisco. 
TIa-m. Good madam — 

Kmg. [Aside to the Queen.] Gertrude, do not di'ink. 
Queen. I have, my lord. 1 pray you, pardon me. 
King. It is the poisoned cup — it is too late. 

[ Turning aside from the Queen, 
Laer. I'll hit him now ; 
And yet it ia almost against my conscience. [Aside, 

Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes. — You do but dally. 
I pray you, pass with your best violence ; 
I am afeard you make a wanton of me. 

Laer. Say you so : — Come on. [They play. — Laertei 
wounds Hamlet ; and, tuhile struggling, they exchange 
rapiers. 
King. Part them : they are incensed. 

[The Queen swoons. 
Ham. Nay, come again. 

[Ha7nlet wounds Laertes, who falls, 
Osrt^k. Look to the Queen there, ho ! 
Hor. How is't, my lord ] 
Osrick. How is't, Laertes 1 

Laer. Why, as a woodcock to my own springe, Osrick .' 
[am justly killed with mine own treachery. 
Ham. How does the Queen % 
King. She swoons to see them bleed. 
Queen. No, no. the drink, the drink. — Oh, my dear ■ 
Hamlet ! — 
The drink, the drink. — I am poisoned. 

[She is led off, L. u. K 
Ham. Oh, villainy ! — Ho ! Ist the door be locked — 
''^reacherv ! seek it out. 



acEKi^iV^l ^ hamljk.1. P 

Laer. It \6 }iere, Hamlet. — Hamlet, thou art slain ' 
No meaiji^.e ai the world can cio thee good i 
In thee there is not half an hour's life ; 
The treacherous instrument is in my hand, 
Unbated, and envenomed ; the foux practice 
Hati^. turned itself on me ; lo, here i lie, 
Nevor to rise agaiii j thy mother's ynoisoned ;— 
I can no more : the k\n^, the king's to bMme. 

Ham. (c.) The pomt 
Envenomed too ! Tfieiij ■venom, to thy work ! 

(Stabs the King on the throne. 
Here, thou incestuous, mui»iVous, d«;mned Dane, 
Follow my mother. [King dies 

Lae?\ He is justly served. 
Exchange forgiveness with me, nobjrj Hamlet : 
Mine and my father's death coaje not upon thee ; 
Nor thine on me ! [Dies 

Ham. Heaven make thee free of it ! I follow thee. 
You that look pale and tremble ai this chance 
That are but mutes or audience to this act, 
Had I but time, (as this fell sergeant, death. 
Is strict in his arrest,) Oh, I could tell you — 
But let it be. — Horatio, 
Report me and my cause aright 
To the unsatisfied. 

Hor. Never, believe it ; 
I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. 
Here's yet some liquor left. [Takes the cup 

Ham. As thou'rt a man — [Throws away the cup 

jrive me the cup — let go — by heaven, I'll have it. 
3h, good Hrratio, what a wounded name. 
Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me ! 
If thou didst ever hold rae in thy heart, 
Absent thee from felicity awhile, 
And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, 
To tell my story. — 
Oh ! I die, Horatio ! 

The potent poison quite o'erthrows my spirit- - 
The rest /s silence. \ljtu 

THE END. 



tee 



V 




£ 



L V 




y/ 



4@=SJ&;i«D FOR A NEW DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



VOL. XLI. 
!21 The Pirate's Legacy 
L'2 The Charcoal Burner 
1-3 Adelgilha 
121 Senor Taliente 
!'.'5 Forest Rose 
I'.T) Duke's Daughter 
l'-'7 Camilla's Husband 
!28 Pure Gold 



{Catalogue continued 

VOL. XLII. 

329 Ticket of Leave Man 

330 Fool's Revenge 

331 O' Neil the Great 

332 Handy x\ ndy 

333 Pirate of the Isles 

334 Fanchon 

335 Little Barefoot 

336 Wild Irish Girl 



from second page of cover. 
VOL. XLIII. 

337 Pearl of Savoy 

338 Dead Heart 

339 Ten Nights in a Bar-room 
310 Dumb Boy of Manchester 
3il Belphegor the Mountebank 
312 Cricket on the Hearth 
o!3 Printer's Devil 
341 Meg's Diversion 



VOL. XLIV. 

345 Drunkard's Doom 

346 Chimney Corner 
.347 Fifteen Years of aDrunk- 

348 No Thoroughfare fard's 

349 Peep 0" Day . [Life 

350 Everybody's Friend 
Hamlet, in Three Acts 
Guttle & Gulpit 



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tratio'^*' '^•^ Denier. Price 2.5 

^ xS.IjOS'JL'E.AJJ'K.: or, Animated Pic- 
i,\f;j^,e use of Families, Schools, and Public 
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^.MA^ilUIl'S GUIDE TO HOME THH- 
ATia CAIjS. How to get them up, and how to 
act injtaem; to which is added, " How to get up 
TheajFicals in a Country House." with By-Laws, 
selecif d Scenes, Plays, and everything useful for 
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D:-IB GUJIDE to the stage, by Leman 
ThO'ias Rede. Containiog clear and full direc- 
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complete and valuable instructions for beginners, 
relative to salaries, rules, manner of going through 
Rcnearsals, securing proper Dresses, conduct at a 
fit St appearance, &c., &c. Price .15 

CriE ART OE ACTING; or. Guide to the 
■ ■^tage. In which the Dramatic Passions are de- 
Ijined, analyzed, and made easy of acquirement ; 
'^Iso the requisites necessary for performers of both 
sexes, heroes, gentlemen, lovers, tradesmen, 
clowns, heroines, fine ladies, hoydens, characters 
[ of middle and old age, etc. Price 15 



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MASSEY'S exhibition RECITER 
AND DRAWING-ROOM ENTER- 
TAINMENTS. Being choice Recitations in 
prose and verse. Together with an unique collec- 
tion of Petite Comedies, Dramas and Farces, 
adapted for the use of Schools and Families. Two 

numbers per number, .'{0 

The two numbers, bound in cloth. School style 75 

THE OLIO ; or Speaker's Companion. A col- 
lection of Recitations in Prose and Verse, Dia- 
logues and Burlesques, compiled for the use of 
Schools, Thespian Societies, etc., and for Public 
Declamation or Reading. In three parts. . . each, 15 

DRAMAS FOR THE DRAWING- 
ROOM. By Miss Keating. Two parts, each, 40 

PLAYS FOR THE PARLOR. By Miss 
Keating. Two parts each, 40 

ACTING CHARADES. By Miss Picker- 
ing 40 

COMIC DRAMAS, for College, Camp, or Cabin 
(Male Characters only), four parts each, 40 

DRAMAS FOR BOYS (Male Characters only), 
by Miss Keating 40 

HOME PLAYS FOR LADIES (Female 
Characters only), complete in three parts each, 40 

AN EVENING'S ENTERTAINMENT, 
an original C omedy, a Burlesque and Farce 40 



THE ETHIOPIAJST DHAMA. 



(NEW SERIES.) 



Blinks and Jinks 
kliucky Number 
^mebody s Coat 
Pvp to P aris 
■iTflt.Hl of Dickens 
'Black OleBuU 

Blackest Tragedy of All 



L Robert Make- Airs 

2 Box and Cox 
5 Mazeppa 

1 United States Mail 
j The Coopers 

5 Old Dad's Cabin 
J The Rival Lovers 

3 The Sham Doctor 
) Jolly Millers 

) Villikins andhisDinah 
L The Quack Doctor 

2 The Mystic Spell 
J The Black Statue 
t Uncle Jeff 

) The Mischievous Nigger 

3 The BlacK Shoemaker 



no. 

8 Tom and Jerry, and 'Who's 

been Here 

9 No Tator. or Man Fish 

10 Who Stole the Chickens 

11 Upper Ten Thousand 

12 Rip Van Winkle 



NO. 

13 Ten Days in the Tombs 

14 Two Pompeys 

15 Running the Blockade 

16 Jeemes the Poet 

17 Intelligence Office 

18 Echo Band 



NO. 

19 Deserters 

20 Deaf as a Post 

21 Dead Alive 

22 Cousin Joe's Visit 

23 Boarding School 

24 Academy of Stars 



NO. 

17 The Magic Penny 

18 The "Wreck [ny Cupids 

19 Oh Hush! orTheVirgin- 

20 The Portrait Painter 

21 The Hop of Fashion 

22 Bone Squash 

23 The Virginia Mummy 

24 Thieves at the Mill 

25 Comedy of Errors 

26 LesMiserables 

27 New Year's Calls 

28 Troublesome Servant 

29 Great Arrival 

30 Rooms to Let 

31 Black Crook Burlesque 

32 Ticket Taker 



NO. 

83 Hypochondriac 

34 William Tell 

35 Rose Dale 

36 Feast 

37 Fenian Spy 

38 Jack's the La<3 

39 Othello 

40 Camille 

41 Nobody's Son 

42 Sports on a Lark 

43 Actor and Singer 

44 Shylock 

45 Quarrelsome Servants 

46 Haunted House 

47 No Cure, No Pay 



NO. 

48 Fighting for the Union 

49 Hamlet the Dainty 

50 Corsican Twins 

51 Deaf— in a Horn 

52 Challenge Dance 

53 De Trouble begins at Nine 

54 Scenes at Gurney's 

55 16.000 Years Ago 

56 Stage-struck Darkey 

57 Black Mail [Clothes 

58 Highest Price for Old 

59 Howls from the Owl Train 

60 Old Hunks 

61 The Three Black Smiths 

62 Turkeys in Season 



Tony 



Denier's Parlor Pantomimes.— In Ten Parts, 25 Cts. each. 

No. v.— The Vivandiere ; or. The Daughter of the 

Regiment. Dame Trot and her Comicai. Cat; 

or, The Misfortunes of Johnny Greene. 
No. VI.— GODENSKI ; or, The Skaters of Wilnau. 

The Enchanted Horn ; or. The Witches' Gift. 
No. Vn.— THi5 SoLDif r for Love ; or, A Hero in 

Spite of Himself. Simeon's Mishaps; or, The 

Hungarian Rendezvous. 
No. VIII.— The Village Ghost; or, Love and 

Murder both Found Out. The Fairies' Frolic; 

or, The Good Wife's Three Wishes. 
No. IX.— The Rose op Sharon ; or, The Unlucky 

Fisherman. Pon'Go. the Intelligent Aps, and 

the Unfortunate Overseer. 
No. X.— Mons. ToiTPET, the Dancing Barber ; 

or, Love and Lather. Vol au Vent and the 

Millers ; or, A Night's Adventures. 



\o. I.— A Memoir of the Author. By Sylvester 
Bleeker, Esq. How to Express the Various 
Passions, Actions, etc. The Four Lovers ; or, 
Los Rivales' Rendezvous. The Frisky Cobbler ; 
or. The Rival Artisans. 

fo. II.— The Rise and Progress of Pantomime. 
The Schoolmaster ; ,or the School in an Uproar. 
Belle of Madrid; or, a Muleteer's Bride. La 
Statue Blanche ; or. The Lovers' Stratagem. 

To. III.— M. Dechalumeau ; or. The Birthday 
Pete. The Di.mon Lover; or. The Frightened 
Family. Robert Macaire ; or, LesDeuxFugitifs. 

lo. IV.— Jocko the Brazilian Ape; or, The 
Mischievous Monkey. The Conscript ; or. How to 
Avoid the Draft. The Magic Flute ; or, The Ma- 
gician's Spell. 



Samuel French, Publisher, 



ny of the above sent by Mail or Express, on receipt of price. 



122 Pfassau Street (Up Statbs). 



FRENCH'S MIN library of congress 



Price 16 Cents each.— Bo 



VOL. 1. 

1 The Irish Attorney 

2 Boots lit the Swan 

3 How to pay the Rent 

4 The Loan "of a Lover 

5 The Dead Shot 

6 His Last Legs 

7 The Invisible Prince 

8 The Golden Parmer 

VOL. II. 

9 Pride of the Market 

10 Used Up 

11 The Irish Tutor 

12 The Barrack Room 

13 Luke the Laborer 

14 Beauty and the Beast 

15 St. Patrick's Eve 

16 Captain of th« Watch 

VOL. in. 

17 The Secret fpers 
I 18 White Horse of the Pep- 
I 19 The Jacobite 

20 The Bottle 

21 Box and Cox 

22 Bamboozling 

23 Widow's Victim 

24 Robert Macaire 

VOL, IV. 

25 Secret Service 

26 Omnibua 

27 Irish Lion 

28 Maid of Croisgy 

29 The Old Guard 

30 Raising the Wind 

31 Slasher and Crashe/ 

32 Naval Engagements 

VOL. V. 

33 Oncknies in California. 

34 Who Speaks First 

35 Bombastes Purioso 
.36 Macbeth Travestie 
87 Irish Ambassador 

38 Delicate Ground 

39 The Weathercock [Gold 

40 All that Glitters is Not 

VOL. VI. 

41 Grimshaw, Bagshaw and 

Bradshaw 

42 Rough Diamond 

43 Bloomer Costume 

44 Two Bonnycastles 

45 Born to Good Luck 

46 Kiss in the Dark [jurer 

47 'Twould Puzzle a Con- 

48 Kill or Cure 

VOL. VII. 

49 Box and Cox Married and 

50 St. Cupid [Settled 

51 Go-to-bed Tom 

52 The Lawyers 

53 Jack Sheppard 

54 The Toodles 

I j 55 The Mobcap 

I I 66 Ladies Beware 

VOL. VIII. 
57 Morning Call 

55 Popping the Question 
59Deaf as a Post 

60 New Footman 
.61 Pleasant Neighbor 

62 Paddy the Piper 

63 Brian O'L'un 

64 Irish Assurance 

VOL. IX. 

65 Temptation 

66 Paddy Carey 

67 Two Gregories 
63 King Charming 

69 Po-ca-hon-tas 

70 Clockmaker's Hat 

71 Married Rake 

72 Love and Murder 

VOL. XXXVII. 

289 All the World's a Stage 

290 Quash, or Nigger Practice 

291 torn Him Out 

292 Prellj Girlsof Stillherg 
23S Angelof the Attic 

294 Circumstances alter Cases 

295 Katty O'Sheal 

296 A Supper in Dixie 



VOL. X. 

73 Ireland and America U5 C 

74 Pretty Piece of Businessjl'16 H 

75 Irish Broom-maker |l47 Lj 

76 To Paris and Back for 148 P 

Five Pounds 

77 That Blessed Baby 

78 Our Gal 

79 Swiss Cottage 

80 Young Widow 

VOL. XI. 

81 O'FIannigan and the Fa- 
S2 Irish Post (ries 

83 My Neighbor's Wife 

84 Irish Tiger 

85 P . P . , or Man and Tiger| 

86 To Oblige Benson 

87 State Secrets 

88 Irish Yankee 



014 094 808 1 



VOL. XII. 

89 A Good Fellow 

90 Cherry and Fair Star 

91 Gale Breezely 

92 Our Jemimy 

93 Miller's Maid 

94 Awkward An-ival 

95 Crossing the Line 

96 Conjugal Lesson 

VOL. XIII. 

97 My Wife's Mirror 

98 Life in New York 

99 Middy Ashore 

100 Crown Prince 

101 T\r Queens . 

102 Thumping Legacy 

103 Unfinished Gentleman 

104 House Dog 

VOL, XIV. 

105 The Demon Lover 

106 Matrimony 

107 In and Out of Place 

108 I Dine with My Mother 

109 Hi-a-wa-tha 

110 Andy Blake 
HI Love in '76 [tie 

112 Romance under DifSoul- 

VOL. XV. 

113 One Coat for 2 Suits 

114 A Decided Case 

115 Daughter [nority 

116 No ; or, the Glorious Mi 

117 Coroner's Inquisition 

118 Love in Humble Life 

119 Family Jars 

120 Personation. 

VOL. XVL 

121 Children in the Wood 

122 Winning a Husband 

123 Day after the Pair 

124 Make Your Wills 

125 Rendezvous 

126 My Wife's Husband 

127 Monsieur Tonson 
123 Illustrious Stranger 

VOL. XVII 

129 Mischief-Making [Mines 

130 A Live Woman in the 

131 The Corsair 

132 Shy lock 

133 Spoiled Child 

134 Evil Eye- 

135 Nothing to Nurse 
1.36 Wanted a. Widow 

VOL. XVIIL 

137 Lottery Ticket 
\',Z-i Fortune's Frolic 
liSS Is he Jealous? 
;i40 Jiarriud B;t;;uelor 
il41 Husband n: Sight 
jl42 Irishman in London 

343 Animal .Magnetism 
1144 Highways and By-Ways 

VOL. XXXVIIL 

297 Ici oc Parle Francais 

298 Who Killed Cock Robin 

299 Declaration of Independence 

300 Heads or Tails 

301 Obstinate Family 
g02 My Aunt 
3b3 That Rasca) Pat 
304 Don Paddy de Bazan 



149 Cc 

150 Opposite Neighbors 

151 Dutchman's Ghost 

152 persecuted Dutchman 
VOL. XX. 

153 Musard Ball 

154 Great Tragic Revival 

155 High Low Jack & Game 

156 A Gentleman from Ire- 

157 Tom and Jerry [land 

158 Village Lawyer 

159 Captain's not A-miss 

160 Amateurs and Actors 
VOL. XXI. 

161 Promotion [ual 

162 A Fascinating Individ- 

163 Mrs. Caudle 

164 Shakspeare's Dream 

165 Neptune' s Defeat 

166 Lady of Bedchamber 

167 Take Care of Little 

168 Irish Widow [ Charley 
VOL. XXIL 

169 Yankee Peddlar 

170 Hiram Hireout 

171 Double-Bedded Room 

172 The Drama Defended 

173 Vermont Wool Dealer 

174 Ebenezer Venture [ter 

175 Principles from Charac- 

176 Lady of the Lake (Trav) 
VOL. XXIII. 

177 Mad Dogs 

178 Barney the Barorj 

179 Swiss Swains 

180 Bachelor's Bedroom 
131 A Rolaud for an Oliver 

182 More Blunder* than One 

183 Dumb Belle 

184 Limerick Boy 
VOL. XXIV. 

185 Nature and Philosophy 

186 Teddy the Tiler 

187 Spectre Bridgroom 

188 Matteo Falcone 

189 Jenny Lind 

190 Two Buzzards 

191 Happy Man 

192 Betsy Baker 
VOL. XXV. 

193 No. 1 Round the Corner 

194 Teddy Roe 

195 Object of Interest 

196 My Fellow Clerk 

197 Bengal Tiger 

198 Laughing Hyena 

199 The Victor Vanquished 

200 Our Wife 
VOL. XXVI. 

201 My Husband's Mirror 

202 Yankee Land. 

203 Norah Creina 
20v Good for Nothing 

205 The First Night 

206 The Kion Boy 

207 War-ijering Minsirel 
20S Wanted, 1000 Milliner;; 

VOL. xxvn. 

209 Poor Pilcoddy 

210 The Mummy [Glasses 231 



223 Siamese Twins 

224 Sent to the ToW 
VOL. XXff 

225 Somebody/' i 

226 Ladles' B^ Irj 

227 Art of V... ,i 

228 The Lady oi thff . 

229 The Eights of Ms 

230 Mv Husband's G 

231 Two Can Play, 
Game 

232 Fighting by Pros 
VOL. XXX. 

233 Unprotected Pen; 
234PetofthePettic( 

235 Forty and Fifty 

236 Who Stole the ] 

237 My Son Diana 

238 Unwarrantable '. 

239 Mr. and Mrs. Wl 

240 A Quiet Family 
VOL. XXXI. 

2il Cool as Cucumbe 

242 Sudden Thought! 

243 Jumbo Jum 

244 A Blighted Being 

245 Little Toddlekins 

246 A Lover by Prox; 

247 Maid -5?ith the ] 

248 Perplexing P red! 
VOL. XXXII, 

249 Dr. Dilworth 

250 Out to Nurse 
•251 A Lucky Hit 
252 The Dowager 
25S Metamora (Eurle 

254 Drear."'..? of Delusi 

255 The Shaker Lovt 

256 Ticklish Times 

VOL. XXX in 

257 20 Minutes withE 

258 Miralda: or, the 
of Tacon 

259 A S.->ldier's Conr 

260 Servants by Legs 

261 Dyiug for Love 

262 Alarming Sacrifi 

263 Valet de Sham 

264 Nicholas Niokleb 
VOL. SXXIV 

265 The Last of the I 

266 King Rene's Dati 

267 The Grotto Nvm 

268 A Devilish Good 

269 A Twice Told Ta 

270 Pas de Fasoinati 

271 Revolutionary S' 

272 A Man Without a 
VOL. XXXV 

273 The Olio, Parti 

274 The Olio, Part 2 
(275 The Olio, Part 3 
?T6 The Trumpeter' s 
iV; Seeicg AVarrcn 
2 "8 Civcev. Mountain 
279 That Nose 
2Si> 'V<jv\ Moody's Sci 

vol,. XXXV 
shocking Event 



211 Don'tPorgetyour Opera 

212 Love in Livery 

213 Anthony aud Cleopatra 

214 Trying It On. 

215 Stage Struck Yankee 

216 Young Wife & Old Urn 
brella 

vol:. XXXIX. 
305 Too Mncb for Good Nature. 306 Cure for the Fi<J 



282 A Regular Fix 

283 Diok Turpi!: 
284, Young ,<5carop 

285 Youna Actress 

286 Call at No. 1-7 

287 One Touch "of Ni 
283 Two B'hoys 



Anything on this Cover sent free hy matt, on receipt of p; 

New and explicit Descriptive List mailed free on r< 
SAMUEL FRENCH, Publisher, .122 Nassau St., 



